2012 Volume 27 Issue 1 Pages 44-49
At the time of the 2009 influenza pandemic, the pathogenicity in the early stage was indefinite, but individual medical facilities took infection control measures according to guidance from central government. Here the infection control measures adopted by these medical facilities during the pandemic period are evaluated. Referring to the interim guidance from the centers for disease control and prevention on infection control measures for the 2009 H1N1 influenza in healthcare settings, we created and distributed a questionnaire on infection control to 25 medical facilities belonging to the Research Group of Emerging and Re-emerging Infectious Diseases (H22-SHINKO-IPPAN-003). Almost all (88%) of the 17 responding medical facilities, with an average number of hospital beds of 610 (range 0-1300), took measures against influenza by establishing special units, sharing information, and performing influenza surveillance. Measures such as setting up triage areas to separate influenza patients (82%) and making influenza patients wear facemasks (94%) were also generally taken, but the period of implementation differed in each facility. Differences were also apparent in the implementation period and the content of personal protective equipment measures, but the wearing of facemasks was consistently adopted. In general, strict infection control measures were taken in the early stage of the pandemic, and as the pathogenicity was clarified, these measures were revised to those implemented for seasonal influenza, especially after the facility had actually encountered influenza cases. The validity and efficacy of infection control measures for pandemics as well as information sharing procedures should be evaluated to provide better central guidance to facilities nationwide in the future.
