Re: H1N1 -- in the NICU

Interesting point to make... we had a baby deliver recently whose mom was positive. No isolation precautions were ordered on this baby. Now 2 weeks old, her swab was positive... still no isolation orders...

Re: H1N1 -- in the NICU

We are limiting visitors to only parents, grandparents, and legal guardians. No children allowed inside the hospital unless they are patients.

We had a baby who's mom was suspected of H1N1, who later ended up negative. That baby was on droplet isolation until she went home.

I am declining H1N1 vaccine.

Re: H1N1 -- in the NICU

Originally Posted by lvnurs9

Interesting point to make... we had a baby deliver recently whose mom was positive. No isolation precautions were ordered on this baby. Now 2 weeks old, her swab was positive... still no isolation orders...

What? I hope you don't have an open unit. Is the baby exhibiting any symptoms of the flu?

Re: H1N1 -- in the NICU

Originally Posted by lvnurs9

Interesting point to make... we had a baby deliver recently whose mom was positive. No isolation precautions were ordered on this baby. Now 2 weeks old, her swab was positive... still no isolation orders...

Re: H1N1 -- in the NICU

I am working in Australia, and as you know we just finish our flu season and had a massive H1N1 outbreak.
At good times about half of our babies in the level 3 unit were tested positive and 100% of visitors and staff expected to have been in contact with someone who has had the virus. All our premmies did well and were not seriously affected while being positive.
In fact one of our little ones was perfectly healthy after being born via emergency ceasar while her mom was dying of H1N1.
We did wear the special masks and single use long sleeve gowns and transferred all confirmed or suspected cases into isolettes. No special restrictions on visitors. just the normal standard i.e. to not visit if you feel unwell yourself. Also the babies were to remain in the isolettes for as long as no negative test result were achieved.

The flu you get from H1N1 is less tough on your body and the media - especially the European and US media - is making humongous hype about it. I would assume it sells extremely well. The danger lies in unknown mutation of the virus. For that, no vaccination will help you.
I am always amazed by what rights US employers have. And I love and appreciate this forum to hear about international differences.
It would be an unthinkable act here to make such a new and untested vaccination compulsory.

Re: H1N1 -- in the NICU

We are now limiting our visitors to no one under 18 unless they are the parent. No flu symptoms and if they have them, they can't visit for 7 days.

Babies born to moms w/ h1n1 admitted on isolation.

Re: H1N1 -- in the NICU

We are not required to get the seasonal of h1n1 vaccine. No visitors under the age of 18 are allowed on hospital property unless they are the patient or parent of a patient. No visitors with s/s of flu allowed. Any employee that is sick or has a family member at home sick=time off.

For the kids that we are getting that have been exposed, are treated on a different area (dropplet precautions).

Re: H1N1 -- in the NICU

The hospital offers the vaccine, but noone is required to get it. All of our nurses have received seasonal flu vax, but most are choosing not to be vaccinated against h1n1. Personal choice. All babies and moms must be isolated for 48 hours when a mom has flu like symptoms.

Re: H1N1 -- in the NICU

Personally, I'd advocate for setting up a thermal scanner at the door kind of like they have at a number of airports (I'm thinking of Hong Kong, specifically).

I've never been entirely satisfied relying on visitors to assess their own health and behave appropriately.

Re: H1N1 -- in the NICU

At our hospital, with THIS flu season, here is our protocol:

* No sick family members can visit...period. Not Mom, not Dad, not Grandma...nobody. If you sit beside your baby and are coughing and have a runny nose, they CANNOT return to visit the baby until they have a negative flu and H1N1 flu screen or 7 calender days have passed.

* No kids under 12...sibling or not.

* For nurses....if you are sick, you are out for 7 days.

Our policy is strict but parents are told this at admission.