'A cluster of patients and staff with symptoms': Enteric outbreak declared at Northumberland hospital - The Peterborough Examiner

An enteric outbreak has been declared on the restorative care unit at Northumberland Hills Hospital (NHH), the hospital has confirmed.

As a result of the enteric outbreak – meaning gastrointestinal illness/infection – visitor restrictions and other infection prevention and control measures have been put into place, said NHH.

“A cluster of patients and staff with symptoms of an enteric (gastrointestinal) infection has been identified on Northumberland Hills Hospital’s restorative care unit,” said the hospital, on Thursday, Feb. 23. “The hospital team is working with the Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit to restrict the spread of the infection and to communicate information.”

The health unit has also posted outbreak details online via its dedicated outbreak page. According to public health, the outbreak was declared Wednesday, Feb. 22.

Public health has also reported an enteric outbreak at the Golden Plough Lodge – McMillan Garden and McMillan Cottage areas. The outbreak at the long-term care facility was declared Feb. 21, according to the health unit.

At NHH, the hospital said a number of control measures have been put into place in the wake of the outbreak.

For the time being, visitor restrictions are in place for the restorative care unit; special exceptions will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis, said staff. All other hospital areas remain open to visitors outside of the requirements of the ongoing COVID-19 visitor policy, noted staff.

New admissions to the unit have also been paused and patient transfers to and from other units will be postponed for now, said NHH. Close monitoring is continuing to ensure any patients who develop symptoms are placed on contact precautions, added staff.

Under “contact precautions,” this means all symptomatic patients are being isolated or co-located and cared for with appropriate contact precautions (i.e. personal protective equipment in use), explained NHH. Staff assignments are also “being cohorted as able.”

Additionally, NHH noted there have been temporary dining service changes in an effort to minimize risk of spread (i.e. eating in rooms versus communal dining room.)

Finally, NHH said staff are continuing with enhanced environmental cleaning and thorough hand hygiene practices.

The hospital said family and loved ones of affected patients have been notified.

Outbreak updates will be provided as new information is available, said staff.

“Northumberland Hills Hospital remains fully operational, with programs and services across the hospital operating as normal,” added staff.

NHH is asking all to be “diligent” in practising hand hygiene and infection prevention and control practices when visiting the hospital at all times. Thorough, frequent hand washing – particularly before and after patient contact – is vital to reducing health-care associated infections, stressed the NHH team.

Public health posts local outbreak information via https://www.hkpr.on.ca/category/my-community/outbreaks/.

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'A cluster of patients and staff with symptoms': Enteric outbreak declared at Northumberland hospital - The Peterborough Examiner
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