TRICOM has created a plan for the reaction needed during a site or regional pandemic of virus or infection. TRICOM manages sites that are public in nature and require sanitizing of multiple surfaces, during a pandemic we need to focus on more than our service, this is the critical stage for pandemic preparedness. The pre-pandemic phase is now, and planning efforts need to focus on three things:
Building TRICOM’s capacity to effectively respond to an influenza pandemic.
Building cooperation among our clients, starting with those in and essential to, the health care system.
Building communication networks, to support both the planning process and the pandemic response.
Pre-Pandemic: Vaccine
Immunization is the single most effective way to reduce the impact of influenza. TRICOM urges it’s employees to get an influenza vaccination every year can keep individuals healthy between pandemics. TRICOM covers any costs associated with our team being vaccinated.
Pre-Pandemic: Emergency Response
TRICOM will review the emergency response plan of our clients and the province. Review of this plan will commence during orientation. The influenza pandemic will likely originate outside North America and we may have advance warning of its arrival.
Pre-Pandemic: Antivirals
TRICOM encourages its team members to have access to anti-virals and to health care if the need should arise.
Pre-Pandemic: Clinical Health Services
All TRICOM staff have access to health care and to health care benefits. Regular visits and good health are encouraged to stave off infection.
Pre-Pandemic: Surveillance
Close watch on our team and that of our clients premise will always be done to ensure the site is disinfected and our team has optimal health.
Pre-Pandemic: Communication
Constant communication with our client is done to update them as to any concerns regarding flu or flu like symptoms. TRICOM will communicate any finding to our clients.
PANDEMIC
We can’t anticipate exactly what will happen during an influenza pandemic, so plans will need to be adapted to reflect circumstances and situations as they arise.
During this phase, our key goals are:
To minimize mortality and morbidity.
To minimize social disruption.
Pandemic: Emergency Response
A clear chain of command is essential for managing any emergency and maintaining control of daily operations until the crisis has passed. Therefore, TRICOM will follow direction form the province and that of heath professionals. We will additionally monitor the effectiveness of
various plans, as they are implemented, and to adapt or refine them as and when needed to reflect the changing nature of the pandemic emergency. We will follow all recommendations as outbreak control and cleaning procedures. Germicidal cleaning procedures will be activated.
Pandemic: Vaccine
Timely vaccine delivery is critical for controlling the spread of influenza. TRICOM will encourage all of its staff to obtain a vaccine when available.
Pandemic: Antivirals
The federal government will coordinate the purchase of antiviral drugs during the pandemic with the provinces and territories.
Pandemic: Clinical Health Services
This is almost exclusively an area of regional and local jurisdiction. Upon pandemic notification from the Provincial Health Officer, each health authority and health care facility will activate its emergency clinical health services plan which should ensure the continued provision of essential medical services and the appropriate care for influenza patients.
Pandemic: Surveillance
TRICOM will report to our client and the authorities all relevant information as to the cleaning, control and condition of the site.
Pandemic: Communication
TRICOM will communicate all findings to our clients and to the authorities.
TRICOM CLEANING PLAN FOR A PANDEMIC OUTBREAK
PREPARATION
Avian Influenza A Virus is highly contagious once introduced into a flock. Appropriate personal protection should be taken for those responsible for the decontamination of a room or area. Appropriate biosecurity practices should be applied, including the control of human traffic and introduction of birds of unknown disease status into the flock.
PROTECTIVE BARRIERS
1. Disposable gloves. Gloves should be changed as required, i.e., when torn, when hands become wet inside the glove or when moving to another room.
2. Household gloves can be worn, but they must be discarded when the cleaning is complete.
3. Protective Eye wear (goggles, face shield or mask with eye protection)
4. Masks (surgical or procedural masks sufficient)
5. Gowns
PRODUCTS
Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide Surface Disinfectant (sold as 7% Virox 5 Concentrate, Virox 5 Ready-To-Use and/ or Virox 5 Wipes, 7% PerCept Concentrate, PerCept RTU or PerCept Wipes, 7% Accel Surface Cleaner Disinfectant Concentrate, Accel RTU or Accel Wipes) and 0.5% Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide Tuberculocidal Surface Disinfectant (sold as Accel TB TRU or Accel TB Wipes)
1. Preparation of solution – Pre-mix and label from a controlled location 7% AHP Concentrate at a ratio of 1:16 (0.5% AHP).
2. Place mixed solution in either a labeled – flip top 1Litre bottle or a small hand bucket.
3. AHP RTU is ready to use (0.5% AHP).
4. AHP Wipes are ready to use (0.5% AHP).
PRODUCT GERMICIDAL EFFICACY
All products listed above are based upon Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide – It has a General Virucide Claim against Poliovirus Type 1, Sabin Strain, which includes inactivation of both enveloped and non-enveloped viruses. In addition to the General Virucide Claim, Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide has been proven to show efficacy against HIV, Human Coronavirus, Human Rhinovirus, Human Rotavirus, Canine Parvovirus, Feline Calicivirus (Norovirus) and the H3N2 strain of Avian Influenza A.
SUMMARY OF PROCEDURES
Apply solution to either surface or to cloth. Clean all horizontal surfaces in the room ensuring that the cloth is changed when soiled. Place used cloth in a marked plastic-lined waste receptacle. Disinfect all horizontal surface in the room by reapplying the AHP Solution and allowing for a 5-minute contact time. If using cloth & bucket method, once room has
been cleaned discard all unused cleaning solution before proceeding to the disinfection step. Allow to air dry or wipe dry if surfaces are still wet after the 5-minute contact time. Periodic rinsing of soft surfaces such as vinyl or naugahyde is suggested. Bathrooms within a room should be cleaned last.
Recommended Procedures for Housekeeping Activities Detailed Activity.
1. Gather all equipment, cleaning solutions and materials required to clean the room. Pandemic Influenza Cleaning and Disinfection Protocol
2. WASH hands and put gloves prior to entering room. Personal protective equipment should be changed if torn or soiled and should always be changed between rooms.
3. Place wet floor sign at the door entrance.
4. Pick up garbage in room and place in regular garbage bag.
5. Strip beds and place linen in regular linen bags. Put soiled linen in regular linen bins. If bins are more than half filled or if there is no bin, leave in the soiled utility room.
6. Basin, bedpan, urinal etc. to be placed in CSR bins in soiled utility room.
7. Visible or gross soil present and/or blood or body fluid spills must be removed prior to cleaning. [See Protocol for Cleaning & Disinfecting a Blood or Body Fluid spill.]
8. Clean all furniture, bed, night table, basin and all bathroom fixtures and all high touch areas, knobs, switches, call bells etc. and everything that is touched by the patient in the bathroom ensuring that clean cloths and solutions do not become contaminated (NO DOUBLE DIPPING) with the AHP Solution. Allow surfaces to remain wet for 30 seconds to achieve the 30-second Broad-Spectrum Sanitizing claim.
9. Disinfect all furniture, bed, night table, basin and all bathroom fixtures and all high touch areas, knobs, switches, call bells etc. and everything that is touched by the patient in the bathroom ensuring that clean cloths and solutions do not become contaminated (NO DOUBLE DIPPING) with the AHP Solution. Reapply the AHP Solution and allow surfaces to remain wet for 5 minutes to achieve the Bactericidal and Virucidal claim.
10. Remake beds and restock dispensers.
11. Spot wipe all walls, high to low with the AHP Solution.
12. Remove and replace cubicle curtains.
13. Soiled rags should be placed in a regular plastic bag and then in regular soiled linen bin or the dirty utility room. Take all garbage bags to the appropriate disposal area.
14. Remove and discard gloves, WASH hands prior to leaving room.
RECOMMENDED PROCEDURES FOR CLEANING & DISINFECTING OF BLOOD & BODY FLUID SPILLS
Appropriate personal protective equipment should be worn for cleaning up a body fluid spill. Gloves should be worn during the cleaning and disinfecting procedures. If the possibility of splashing exists, the worker should wear a face shield and gown. For large spills, overalls, gowns or aprons as well as boots or protective shoe covers should be worn.
Personal protective equipment should be changed if torn or soiled, and always removed before leaving the location of the spill, and then wash hands.
1. WASH hands and put on gloves.
2. If the possibility of splashing exists, the worker should wear a face shield and gown. For large spills, overalls, gowns or aprons as well as boots or protective shoe covers should be worn. Personal protective equipment should be changed if torn or soiled and always removed before leaving the location of the spill.
3. Apply the AHP Solution to spill – wait 30 seconds. Pandemic Influenza Cleaning and Disinfection Protocol
4. Blot up the blood with disposable towels. Dispose of paper towel in plastic-lined waste receptacle.
5. Spray or wipe surface with the AHP Solution – wait 5 minutes. Wipe dry with disposable paper towel. Discard paper towel as above.
6. Remove gloves and dispose in plastic-lined waste receptacle.
7. WASH hands.
Disposal of Infectious Material
All cleaning cloths gloves and handled tools used for the decontamination of a suspected Avian Flu virus case must be placed in a clearly marked plastic lined waste receptacle. Decontaminate all waste before disposal; steam sterilization, chemical disinfection and or incineration.
Instructions for Confirmatory Testing of 7% AHP Concentrate Surface Disinfectants
The Accelerated Hydrogen Peroxide Test Strip (Part No. AHP500) can be used for confirmatory testing when required by facility protocol. These strips are easy to use dip-and-read reagents strips for a pass or fail determination of the hydrogen peroxide concentration in the 7% AHP Concentrate Surface Disinfectant solution.
1. Remove a test strip and immediately close the container.
2. Dip the test strip into the Diluted AHP solution to be tested for 1-second ensuring that the reaction zone is completely wetted.
3. Remove the test strip and shake of excess liquid.
4. Wait for 120-seconds then compare the reaction zone with the colour scale.
NOTE: The purpose of confirmatory testing is not to extend the shelf life beyond the 30-day claim. Should the test strip show that the Diluted AHP Solution still meets the targeted level of hydrogen peroxide after 30 days the product MUST still be disposed to ensure compliance with testing and label claims.
