Tips on infection control provided
Every year, millions of Americans contract infectious diseases that can result in staggering health care costs, reduced workplace productivity, and adverse or even fatal outcomes. At a time when new infections such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) have appeared, it is important to remember that many life-threatening infectious illnesses can be prevented by adhering to simple principles of infection control both in the workplace and at home.
Because of the worldwide concern regarding the spread of viruses, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) has chosen the prevention of infectious diseases as the focus of its annual Labor Day CheckList. The 2003 CheckList, Control of Infectious Diseases, is posted on the ACOEM web site at www.acoem.org/pdfs/2003LaborDayCheckList.pdf.
Each year, the Arlington Heights, IL-based ACOEM issues a Labor Day Checklist addressing an issue of importance to occupational health professionals. This year’s infectious diseases CheckList addresses these five major areas:
- education;
- hand washing;
- cleaning and disinfecting;
- food handling and preparation;
- vaccinations.
Each area is divided into recommendations for employers and employees. The CheckList summarizes several steps employees can take to reduce the chances that they, a family member, or a colleague will unnecessarily contract an infectious illness. Covering your mouth when you cough or sneeze, washing your hands frequently and properly, storing foods at correct temperatures, and receiving an annual flu vaccination if you are in a high-risk category, are only a few of the steps listed in the easy-to-read table format for employers and employees.
Given all the possible issues ACOEM could have addressed in its Labor Day CheckList, why choose infectious diseases? "With current emerging infections such as SARS, that remind us how easily potentially deadly viruses can be passed from person to person, it is worth reviewing the very basic principles of infection control," states Mark Russi, MD, MPH, chair of ACOEM’s Committee on Infectious Diseases and author of this year’s CheckList. "I think everybody has been reminded this year that not only in the population in general, but working people in particular are at risk for a number of infectious diseases."
He notes that these diseases do not have to be as dramatic as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) or monkeypox to be of concern to the working population. "While the CheckList does not to go into more detailed preventive measures for diseases that are more pervasive among health care workers, such as SARS or smallpox, this is a year when infectious diseases have come to the fore a little more," he notes. "We felt the desire to provide some reminders to people that infectious diseases overall extract a tremendous toll in American workers."
Many of these are run-of-the-mill diseases that are fairly easily prevented, says Russi, including respiratory or diarrheal infections. "Hopefully this CheckList can sensitize people to the issue that the workplace can be a conduit of transferring information to help prevent [the spread of these diseases]," notes. "If you follow the suggested measures for employers and employees alike, you can reduce workplace transmissions of infectious illness and adhere to steps that can be taken at home as well."
How can occupational health professionals best make use of the CheckList? "They could use the materials from the CheckList to make posters or to extract certain key points to include in brief presentations with employees to remind them," Russi offers. "This is not rocket science; these are basic and straightforward recommendations that have been around a long time. But it is good to have them all in one place."
For more information, contact: The American College of Occupational Medicine, 1114 N. Arlington Heights Road, Arlington Heights, IL 60004-4770. Telephone: (847) 818-1800.
Because of the worldwide concern regarding the spread of viruses, the American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine (ACOEM) has chosen the prevention of infectious diseases as the focus of its annual Labor Day CheckList.
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