Q: I am with a patient who answered “yes” to one of the screening questions. What should I do?
A: Call the Infection Control Coordinator at Ex 1543/815-303-8838 or the Nursing Supervisor.

 

Q: How is Ebola spread? Can I get it from coughs and sneezes?

A: Ebola is only be transmitted by direct unprotected contact with blood or body fluids (urine, saliva, feces, vomit, sweat, semen) of a person who is sick with Ebola.
 
Q: When is someone contagious?
A: People are only contagious with Ebola when they are experiencing symptoms.

 

Q: How long does Ebola live outside the body?

A: Ebola on dried on surfaces (e.g. doorknobs and countertops) can survive for several hours. Virus in body fluid (e.g. blood) can survive up to several days at room temperature.
 
Q: If someone survives Ebola, can he/she still spread the disease?
A: Once someone recovers from Ebola, they can no longer spread the virus. However, Ebola has been found in semen for up to three months, so unprotected sex is not advised for three months post-recovery.

 

Q: What do I do if I'm returning to the United States from an area where the outbreak is occurring?

A: After you return, monitor your health for 21 days. Seek medical care immediately if you develop fever or any of the following symptoms: headache, muscle pain, diarrhea, vomiting, stomach pain or unexplained bruising/bleeding. Tell your doctor about your recent travel and symptoms before you go to the office or ED. Advance notice will help your doctor care for you and protect other visitors and health care personnel.
 
Q: What Personal Protective Equipment should health care workers wear and how should PPE be put on and taken off to prevent contamination?
A: PPE for caring for a patient suspected or confirmed to have Ebola is spelled out on the SMH Ebola Preparedness Guidelines. Properly wearing and removing PPE is critical to prevent contamination and to protect a health care worker from becoming contaminated.

 

Q: What disinfectant should be used to kill Ebola?

A: A hospital disinfectant with a label claim for a non-enveloped virus (e.g. norovirus, rotavirus, adenovirus, poliovirus) should be used to disinfect environmental surfaces for rooms of patients with Ebola. Ebola is an enveloped virus, which is susceptible to a broad range of hospital disinfectants, but as a precaution, selection of a disinfectant product with a higher potency than what is normally required is being recommended. Hence the recommendation for use of a disinfectant with label claims against non-enveloped viruses (as these are more resistant to disinfectants).

 

Q: What is the treatment for Ebola?

A: There is no treatment other than supportive care (e.g. IV fluid or oral rehydration). Some patients will recover with appropriate medical care.

 

Q: What if the patient and/or family member refuses to wear the yellow mask?

A: Acknowledge the patient’s fear. Try to explain that you are asking them to wear a mask for everyone’s protection. Keep the patient isolated and immediately contact the nurse resource for further assistance.

 

Q: If I have a patient who I need to isolate, how do I clean my area?

A: If you have a patient who has screened positive for Ebola risk, contact Environmental Services and the Infection Control Coordinator or Nursing Supervisor to coordinate next steps once the patient has left the area.

 

Q: Why are we having patients/families put a mask on if it’s not an airborne illness?

A: Masks are part of the recommendations developed by the CDC. We are doing everything we can to follow the CDC recommendations in order to provide a safe environment for all patients and staff.

 

Q: If someone checks in at a clinic but then goes elsewhere to check in for an X-ray, will they be asked the screening questions again?

A: It’s possible. All employees need to understand and let patients know the screening questions are standard at every patient care entry point. Apologize to the patient for the duplication.

 

Q: What is SMH doing to prepare in case someone presents to one of our sites with symptoms of Ebola?
A: SMH has developed and is implementing an Ebola Screening Tool for use in all locations where patients may access services. We will continuously provide our caregivers with the latest updates from the CDC pertaining to disease recognition, patient care, specimen collection and isolation precautions. We have also organized a team of key individuals to develop and implement an Ebola Preparedness Plan.

 

Q: What does SMH expect to happen?

A: We are not expecting an influx of patients, as there are only two known cases of Ebola acquired in the U.S. at this time. We do expect some of our patients may be worried because they have traveled to those countries in Africa that have had outbreaks of Ebola, and they may have some of the symptoms. If someone does come to one of our sites, our screening tool will identify a high-risk patient. In the unlikely case we detect Ebola, we will actively and compassionately protect that patient along with our Community of Caregivers.

 

Q: Where do I go to find the most up-to-date information about what I should know about Ebola?

A: The most up-to-date information will always be on the CDC website.

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