Hospital approach to influenza
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This is a discussion on Hospital approach to influenza in General Nursing Discussion, part of General Nursing ... I asked these questions in the Pandemic/Flu forum but got no response. What is your acute care...
by Altra Guide Jan 18I asked these questions in the Pandemic/Flu forum but got no response. What is your acute care hospital's approach to flu testing?
Do you:
Swab all admitted patients?
All ED patients too?
Only those that are febrile?
Above what temperature?
Do you isolate swabbed patients until result?
Do you have a rapid or point-of-care flu test?
Does negative rapid/point-of-care result mean the discontinuation of isolation?
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Jan 19 by TX.RN.ShannonCurrently, our hospital only swabs those symptomatic or exposed to someone that has tested positive. The only exception has been at a residential facility in our town---all residents on Tamiflu and all that come to ER are tested.
We have a 15 minute "rapid flu" test for type A & B; there is also a send-out panel that takes 3-5 days for results. We have had a few patients that have had negative rapid results but positive on the send-outs.
All patients that test positive anytime during hospitalization are placed in contact/droplet. There is no policy for retesting after treatment or for discontinuing isolation. -
Jan 20 by AnonRNCI don't know the answer to most of your questions (I work NICU), except this one: if a patient is symptomatic, isolation continues regardless of test results.
