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N O V E M B E R 2 0 1 4 | O U T P AT I E N T S U R G E R Y M A G A Z I N E O N L I N E
E B O L A V I R U S
T
ake airborne precautions when caring for an Ebola patient in the surgi-
cal setting, in addition to standard, contact and droplet precautions, the
Association of periOperative Registered Nurses (AORN) recommends.
Airborne precautions are necessary in the OR because an aerosol-generat-
ing procedure is highly likely to occur (for example, intubation and extubation
or open suctioning of airways). You should use an airborne infection isolation
room if available during surgery and post-operative recovery. If no airborne
infection isolation room is available, you may use a portable anteroom system
(PAS)-high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) combination unit. Use of certain
air-purifying respirators in the OR is under evaluation by OSHA and NIOSH, but
the issue remains unresolved. AORN recommends that facilities conduct a risk
assessment in consultation with the organization's infection preventionist when
selecting respirators to be used in the OR.
Environmental cleaning team members should follow CDC recommenda-
tions when cleaning the OR after a patient with Ebola, says Amber Wood,
MSN, RN, CNOR, CIC, an AORN perioperative nursing specialist. The CDC
advises higher levels of precaution toward potentially contaminated sur-
faces because of Ebola's apparent low infectious dose and disease severity.
Place contaminated instruments in puncture- and leak-proof containers
and transport them to the decontamination area as soon as possible after
completion of the procedure. Sterile processing team members should follow
standard precautions and wear personal protective equipment (PPE), includ-
ing a fluid-resistant gown with sleeves, general-purpose utility gloves with a
cuff that extends beyond the cuff of the gown, a mask and eye protection or a
full face shield, and shoe covers or boots designed for use as PPE.
— Dan O'Connor
AORN RECOMMENDED PRACTICES
Take Airborne Precautions When Caring for Ebola Patients
