Effectively containing an influenza in an acute psychiatry ward of a medical center based on previous experience

Abstract

Purpose: The implementation of infection control strategies was relatively difficult in psychiatry ward because these patients were not good for caring themselves and obeying medical orders. Therefore, the infections of influenza virus easily clustered in them. However, the outbreak could be stopped if we paid more attention to early detection and intervention of cluster. Methods: In the acute psychiatry ward, two patients suffered from flu in four days. According to the possibility of flu clustering, four empiric strategies were listed below for the intervention of infection control: 1. Practical facility of droplets isolation and hands hygiene, 2. Restriction of patients’ living range, 3. Environmental cleaning and disinfection, 4. Monitoring the health of members. However, cases of flu were consecutively increased in this ward. The team of infectious disease control was notified for surveillance and discussion of flu clustering with key members of this department. The further resolutions from our consensus were listed below: 1. Suspending group activities, 2. Increased frequency of environmental cleaning and disinfection, 3. Practical facility of surgical mask for work, 4. Keeping distance and silent at meal. Results: After our interventions, there was not a new case found. Only one case was proven as influenza virus type A by the virus isolation. Conclusions: In hospital, each member has the responsibility of infectious disease control. They should have the training to deal with abnormal events or episodes of infections in their department. If they obtain the ability and further internalized them as standard operating procedure, the cluster of flu could be controlled more rapidly.