New guidelines may help infection control at residential facilities

The first-ever infection prevention and control guidelines for pediatric residential facilities to prevent the spread of infectious pathogens among vulnerable pediatric populations have recently been published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemilogy, the journal of the Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America, according to a recent press release.

The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America (SHEA) and the Ronald McDonald House partnered together to release the guidelines. The guidelines are expected to provide standard guidance and educate staff and volunteers on infection prevention.

“Preventing transmission of infectious agents among patients, families and health care personnel is a challenge in all settings where care is being delivered,” Judith A. Guzman-Cottrill, DO, of the Oregon Health and Science University said in the release. “Although these setting are not health care facilities, there is a duty to protect patients and their families who increasingly utilize these family-centered facilities that were developed to meet growing needs and improve the quality of life or children worldwide.”

The Pediatric Infectious Disease Society has endorsed the guidelines. Educational materials for patients and families planning to stay at family-centered residential facilities will include key points and information from the guidelines, which will be available on the SHEA website.

For more information refer to the guidelines.