Infection Control in CF Clinics

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Infection Control recommendations in Cystic Fibrosis (CF) Clinics

You can read more about the  background of this project,  purpose of the recommendations or the  methodology here. 

It is recommended that all clinics schedule and manage people with CF in ways to minimise the time in common waiting areas. Such strategies might include the following:

• Stagger clinic schedule
• Place people with CF regardless of their respiratory culture results in an exam room immediately on arrival to the clinic
• Use a pager system or personal cell phone to alert people that an exam room is available
• Keep a person with CF in one exam room while the CF care team rotates through the exam room
• Do not share common items (e.g. clinic toys), and request that people with CF bring their own recreational items to clinic appointments.

To prevent transmissible pathogens occurring between children and young people with CF, healthcare workers should observe an appropriate combination of practices (e.g. hand hygiene) and barrier precautions (e.g. gown, mask, gloves) based on the anticipated exposure when they care for a patient.

If a person with CF is admitted to the clinic room directly after another person with CF, all room surfaces (desks, chairs, beds, door handles, taps, hand wash etc.) will be cleaned between patients as per hospital policy for environmental cleaning. After cleaning, room is to be left for at least 30minutes between patients.

Any shared equipment (stethoscopes, thermometers, pulse oximeter leads etc.) will be cleaned between people with CF as per hospital policy for medical equipment cleaning.

References

1. Cystic Fibrosis, Australia (2012).  Infection Control Guidelines for Cystic Fibrosis Patients and Carers.  Available from: http://www.cysticfibrosis.org.au/media/wysiwyg/CFAustralia/PDF_files/02_CFA_InfectionControlGuidelines_LowRez.pdf
2. Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Guideline (2014).  Infection Prevention and Control Guideline for Cystic Fibrosis: 2013 Update.  Available from: http://www.jstor.org/stable/10.1086/676882?origin=JSTOR-pdf
3. Royal Brompton & Harefield, NHS Foundation Trust (2014).  Clinical Guidelines: Care of Children with Cystic Fibrosis. Available from: www.rbht.nhs.uk/childrencf

Information last reviewed: October 2016