NEW DELHI: Physicians, nurses and lab technicians across the world have started to get infected with H1N1 influenza virus.
According to CDC Atlanta, half of the medical personnel were infected during work and none had followed protective recommendations.
The fear, however, is that the number of infected individuals with some relationship to health care delivery will grow unless doctors are doubly careful.
India too is seeing positive cases of H1N1 infection in the medical fraternity.
Two doctors were on Saturday admitted at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Kolkata with symptoms of H1N1 infection.
In Delhi, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital's H1N1 screening centre chief and a colleague of his have been put under home quarantine for suspected infection. Three more doctors in the capital had tested positive for the contagious virus on Friday.
So why do doctors in hospitals, at airports and in labs need to be extra careful?
"Of the 280 doctors, three cases are positive till now, on account of certain laxities. They are on the front line, interacting with people coming into India from infected countries or taking their samples for testing. They are therefore most prone to infection, if proper protection isn't taken. Private labs must take adequate precautions. Lab technicians must wear masks at all times," Union health secretary Naresh Dayal said.
He added, "All positive cases of H1N1 among doctors in India till now have occurred due to accidental exposure."
So what precautions must a doctor take against H1N1?
According to scientists from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, "They must wear their personal protective equipment at all times whenever going close to an infected patient. The doctor should not rely wholly on Tamilfu and think the anti-viral drug will provide 100% protection against infection. Popping Tamilfu can also be detrimental by building resistance."
Dr Randeep Guleria, HOD of medicine at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, said doctors with busy Out Patient Departments (OPDs) must be extra careful.
"A patient may be carrying the virus but may have come to the OPD for an orthopaedic problem. Doctors, therefore, have to be careful. The OPD of the doctor must have good ventilation and all patient care equipment should be effectively cleaned every half hour," Dr Guleria said.
Experts said reusable equipment like a stethoscope should be decontaminated between each patient. Personnel should wear disposable gloves.
So what are the hygiene related steps every doctor should take?
Dr Ashok Seth, chairman, Escorts Heart Institute, said, "Wash hands frequently with soap and water before and after patient contact. Touch is a vital pathway for the virus to jump."
According to Dr Guleria, one should never forget that H1N1 is an extremely contagious virus even though it is still not that virulent.
"A doctor must maintain at least an arm's distance with a patient with flu-like symptoms and must be wearing a mask. He should also cover his nose and mouth with the hand or a tissue when coughing or sneezing," Dr Guleria said.
What doctors need to do?
Wash hands frequently
Steps on hand washing are:
* Remove jewelery or watch before washing your hand
* Rinse hands under warm running water
* Lather with soap, cover all surfaces of the hand and fingers using friction. Dry hands thoroughly with a single-use towel
* For lady doctors, keep fingernails short
* Reusable equipments like a stethoscope should be decontaminated between each patient
* External surfaces or portable equipment should be wiped with a neutral detergent and hot water.
* All scientists in BSL-3 laboratories must at all times wear their N100 respirator
* All personnel involved in screening of passengers and doctors who enter the rooms of patients in isolation for swine flu must cover their mouths and nose with the N95 respirator
* All health care workers at high risk of contact with suspect or probable influenza patients should use the triple layer surgical facemask. This should be changed every 4-6 hours
According to CDC Atlanta, half of the medical personnel were infected during work and none had followed protective recommendations.
The fear, however, is that the number of infected individuals with some relationship to health care delivery will grow unless doctors are doubly careful.
India too is seeing positive cases of H1N1 infection in the medical fraternity.
Two doctors were on Saturday admitted at the Infectious Diseases Hospital in Kolkata with symptoms of H1N1 infection.
In Delhi, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital's H1N1 screening centre chief and a colleague of his have been put under home quarantine for suspected infection. Three more doctors in the capital had tested positive for the contagious virus on Friday.
So why do doctors in hospitals, at airports and in labs need to be extra careful?
"Of the 280 doctors, three cases are positive till now, on account of certain laxities. They are on the front line, interacting with people coming into India from infected countries or taking their samples for testing. They are therefore most prone to infection, if proper protection isn't taken. Private labs must take adequate precautions. Lab technicians must wear masks at all times," Union health secretary Naresh Dayal said.
He added, "All positive cases of H1N1 among doctors in India till now have occurred due to accidental exposure."
So what precautions must a doctor take against H1N1?
According to scientists from the National Institute of Communicable Diseases, "They must wear their personal protective equipment at all times whenever going close to an infected patient. The doctor should not rely wholly on Tamilfu and think the anti-viral drug will provide 100% protection against infection. Popping Tamilfu can also be detrimental by building resistance."
Dr Randeep Guleria, HOD of medicine at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, said doctors with busy Out Patient Departments (OPDs) must be extra careful.
"A patient may be carrying the virus but may have come to the OPD for an orthopaedic problem. Doctors, therefore, have to be careful. The OPD of the doctor must have good ventilation and all patient care equipment should be effectively cleaned every half hour," Dr Guleria said.
Experts said reusable equipment like a stethoscope should be decontaminated between each patient. Personnel should wear disposable gloves.
So what are the hygiene related steps every doctor should take?
Dr Ashok Seth, chairman, Escorts Heart Institute, said, "Wash hands frequently with soap and water before and after patient contact. Touch is a vital pathway for the virus to jump."
According to Dr Guleria, one should never forget that H1N1 is an extremely contagious virus even though it is still not that virulent.
"A doctor must maintain at least an arm's distance with a patient with flu-like symptoms and must be wearing a mask. He should also cover his nose and mouth with the hand or a tissue when coughing or sneezing," Dr Guleria said.
What doctors need to do?
Wash hands frequently
Steps on hand washing are:
* Remove jewelery or watch before washing your hand
* Rinse hands under warm running water
* Lather with soap, cover all surfaces of the hand and fingers using friction. Dry hands thoroughly with a single-use towel
* For lady doctors, keep fingernails short
* Reusable equipments like a stethoscope should be decontaminated between each patient
* External surfaces or portable equipment should be wiped with a neutral detergent and hot water.
* All scientists in BSL-3 laboratories must at all times wear their N100 respirator
* All personnel involved in screening of passengers and doctors who enter the rooms of patients in isolation for swine flu must cover their mouths and nose with the N95 respirator
* All health care workers at high risk of contact with suspect or probable influenza patients should use the triple layer surgical facemask. This should be changed every 4-6 hours
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