Guidelines for the Prevention and Control of Influenza Outbreaks in Residential Care Facilities for Public Health Units in Australia
Appendix 14: Respiratory illness/Influenza outbreak alert letter to medical practitioner
- Disclaimer
- Acknowledgements
- Preface
- How to use this document
- Summary Flow Chart
Chapter 1: Introduction- Chapter 2: Preventing Outbreaks
- Chapter 3: Outbreak and Case Definitions
- Chapter 4: Investigation and Management of Outbreaks
- Chapter 5: References
Appendices- Appendix 1: Environmental Cleaning
- Appendix 2: Respiratory Outbreak Control Measures
- Appendix 3: Checklist for Public Health Unit for Investigation and Management of Outbreaks
- Appendix 4: Respiratory Outbreak Line Listing - Residents ONLY
- Appendix 5: Part A Respiratory Outbreak Line Listing Form - Staff ONLY
- Appendix 6: Influenza & Pneumococcal Immunisation Survey
- Appendix 7: Sample Collection Guide*
- Appendix 8: Guidelines for Taking Nasal and Throat Swabs
- Appendix 9: Respiratory outbreak transfer notification
- Appendix 10: Visitor Restriction Sign - Facility
- Appendix 11: Visitor Restriction Sign - Room
- Appendix 12: Antiviral medications for treatment and prophylaxis of influenza
- Appendix 13: Respiratory illness/Influenza outbreak alert letter to RCF Manager
- Appendix 14: Respiratory illness/Influenza outbreak alert letter to medical practitioner
- Appendix 15: Glossary and List of Abbreviations
Please note the attached letter is a guide and a resource which the Public Health Unit may modify to fit local circumstances
NOTE – Please print this text onto a Public Health Unit letterhead
Dear Doctor
The (NAME OF PUBLIC HEALTH UNIT) was recently notified about a suspected cluster of respiratory infections affecting residents at (RCF NAME).
To reduce the spread of the suspected respiratory infection, we have recommended that the facility immediately implement infection control precautions including:
Isolation of symptomatic residents for 5 days from onset of symptoms or until symptoms have resolved,
Exclusion of symptomatic staff for 5 days from onset of symptoms or until symptoms have resolved.
Restriction of visitors to the facility until the outbreak has resolved,
Promotion of thorough hand washing with soap and water (or alcohol-based hand wipes) before and after contact with residents and
Use of gloves, masks and eye wear when providing direct care to ill residents.
To determine the cause of respiratory infections we recommend that nose and throat swabs are collected on residents and staff that have developed symptoms within the previous 48 hours. These swabs will be tested for common respiratory viruses (your assistance may be required for this and if so the facility may contact you).
If the laboratory results indicate an outbreak of influenza, then antiviral therapy or prophylaxis for residents and staff may be recommended (regardless of vaccination status). Influenza vaccination should be recommended for all unvaccinated residents, attending health care providers, staff members and visitors.
The three antivirals currently licensed in Australia are: amantadine, which is approved for the prophylaxis of influenza A only and zanamivir and oseltamivir, which are approved for both the treatment and prophylaxis of influenza A and B.
Please note that antiviral therapy should be personalised for each patient according to the dosage recommendations and potential adverse reactions described in the Product Information. Also please note that none of these three antivirals are currently listed in the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme for this indication.
In regards to prophylaxis, this will need to be given until the outbreak is declared over.
For more information or advice, please contact: _____________ (b/h) or _____________ (a/h)
Yours sincerely
Director
Public Health Unit
