Guidelines & Recommendations

Note: This guidance supersedes “GUIDANCE FOR INFECTION CONTROL FOR 2009 H1N1 INFLUENZA IN HEALTH CARE" released on 2.4.10)

On November 5, the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) issued guidance on influenza prevention in health care settings, and Cal/OSHA issued guidance on the application of the aerosol transmissible diseases standards for the 2010-11 influenza season.

Surge Capacity Guidelines and Templates

• From the State of Maryland
• From Iowa Departent of Public Health
• From Placer County, California
• From Santa Clara County, California

Surge Tools

• Component 1 – Levels of Surge
• Component 2 - Bed Surge Expansion Tool
• Component 3 – Health System Integration Tool
• Component 4– Rapid Discharge Tool
  

Please note the CDC has released "Updated Guidance: Prevention Strategies for Seasonal Influenza in Healthcare Settings".

This new guidance replaces previous seasonal influenza guidance and the interim H1N1 infection control guidance and combines both into one guidance document. As expected, the guidance strongly encourages influenza vaccination for healthcare personnel (seasonal vaccine will now include H1N1 within the vaccine). 

The guidance also recommends the use of droplet precautions in healthcare facilities (instead of the modified airborne precautions included in the previous H1N1 guidance). Facemasks (rather than N95s) are recommended for close contact with patients with suspected or confirmed influenza. CDC recommends the use of N95 respirators only for “aerosol generating procedures”.

A 30-day public comment period will conclude on July 22, 2010. Written comments must be received on or before that date. Comments received after July 22, 2010 will be considered to the extent possible. CHA will submit comments; if you would like to share your comments with us, we can include them in our submission. Please submit your comments to CHA via the website forum discussion on this topic.

• Download updated CDC Prevention Strategies for Seasonal Influenza in Healthcare Settings (6.22.10)      

This joint document serves to update the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) recommendations of August 20, 2009, for infection control for 2009 H1N1 influenza in health care settings based on the revised Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) “Interim Guidance on Infection Control Measures for 2009
H1N1 Influenza in Healthcare Settings, Including Protection of Healthcare Personnel,” issued October 14, 2009.

• Download updated CDPH Infection Control Guidance for Health Care Settings (updated 2.4.10)      

Note: This guidance has been updated. Click here to access the updated guidance 

Revision History: Supersedes “Pandemic (H1N1) 2009 Influenza Infection Control Recommendations For
Hospitalized Patients. (8/20/09)”

Originating programs: Healthcare Associated Infections Program, Center for Health Care Quality, and
Division of Communicable Disease Control, Center for Infectious Diseases

• Download updated CDPH Infection Control Guidance For Hospitalized Patients (updated 2.4.10)      

CDPH is revising the 2009 H1N1 influenza infection control suspect case definition. This revision reflects the current decreased prevalence of 2009 H1N1 influenza relative to other respiratory pathogens that produce a clinical illness similar to that of both 2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza

• Download CDPH on Case Definitions to be Used for Infection Control in California Health Care Settings February 4, 2010

Recently, questions about reporting of seasonal influenza cases have been raised and this document clarifies what is reportable.

This document provides guidance for the reporting of 2009 H1N1 and seasonal influenza cases, vaccine adverse events, and outbreaks to CDPH. Information from previous CDPH documents and updates has been consolidated to provide one document that contains the most recent reporting guidelines and links to the necessary reporting forms.

PLEASE NOTE: Hospitalized and Fatal Seasonal Influenza Reporting requirements in the document. While most of the document addresses reporting for H1N1 cases and vaccine adverse events (expanded list), the State is also requesting reporting on SEASONAL hospital and fatal cases to the local health department.

Recently, questions about reporting of seasonal influenza cases have been raised and this document clarifies what is reportable.

• Download CDPH Guidance for Reporting of Cases, Vaccine Adverse Events, and Outbreaks in the 2009-2010 Flu Season

• Download the updated guidelines (Jan. 29, 2009)