Nova Scotia | Update on the C. difficile outbreak at Cape Breton Regional Hospital
Cape Breton | 13 Jan 2012
The Cape Breton District Health Authority continues its efforts to prevent further spread of Clostridium difficile (C.difficile) and the outbreak at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital.
· Visitor restrictions and precautions for C.difficile remain in place on the Intermediate Care Unit (IMCU) and on Unit 4B at the Cape Breton Regional Hospital because of an outbreak of hospital acquired C.difficile.
· There are eight patients currently in hospital at the Regional with C.difficile. Six of those patients are related to the current outbreak. There have been no new hospital acquired cases at the Regional Hospital in the past 10 days.
· Two additional patients with hospital acquired C.difficile have died. In addition to C.difficile infection the patients also had other illnesses.
· While the patient death and ongoing cases are unfortunate, they are not unexpected. The number of inpatient cases may rise and fall and additional deaths are possible with this type of outbreak.
· Special cleaning for C.difficile continues in patient rooms, on units, in clinical areas and on some equipment. Environmental Services also has additional staff in place to help with cleaning and disinfecting.
· The District’s outbreak team meets daily. Staff education on C.difficile is ongoing. Monitoring is also underway to make sure that everyone follows the infection prevention and control precautions and measures in place. Patients and families can also help by asking or reminding care givers to clean their hands.
· In addition to the ongoing efforts of all staff and physicians, the District is getting additional help from staff from Infection Prevention Control Nova Scotia (IPCNS) and other Districts.
· The District will also be following its policy that allows male and female inpatients to be placed in the same room. One of the lessons learned from the previous C.difficile outbreak was that limiting the transfer of patients from room to room can help reduce the spread of the bacteria. Transfers will only be done for medical reasons.
· Infection prevention and control precautions can also be in place at any time, in any hospital where patients have a hospital acquired infection or are being tested for a hospital acquired infection, not just C.difficile.
· Only one immediate family member or a next of kin at a time is allowed to visit their loved one. They are not allowed to go from room to room visiting other patients or residents in the hospital. No children under 12 and no one with an illness, including diarrhea, should visit.
· All visitors to these units must check with unit staff before their visit. Visitors to patients with designated precautions must also wear gloves and a gown. Visitors must clean their hands with soap and warm water before and after their visit.
· Visitors cannot take food or beverages into the rooms of patients on precautions for C.difficile
· These restrictions apply to inpatient visiting only where there are C.difficile case or suspected cases. People can still go to the hospital for scheduled appointments and all other services including lab, blood collection, x-ray, clinics and appointments with physicians. There is no broad public health risk to the community.
C.difficile is a bacterium that causes diarrhea and serious intestinal conditions. The District regrets that another outbreak has occurred. It is asking everyone to follow any infection prevention and control precautions in District facilities and appreciates the public’s cooperation.
Nova Scotia | Ticks established in Gavelton, Yarmouth County
Gavelton | Field work has confirmed that ticks collected from in and around Gavelton, Yarmouth Co., carry the bacteria that can cause Lyme disease.
The field work is part of an ongoing surveillance program by the departments of Natural Resources and Health and Wellness, in partnership with the Public Health Agency of Canada’s National Microbiology Laboratory.
Residents, health care providers and municipal leaders in Gavelton and the surrounding areas were informed by letters sent from Dr. Lynda Earle, medical officer of health for South West Health.
“Although this is not the time of year when ticks are typically most active, it’s important for people to be mindful that when working or playing in grassy, shrubby and wooded areas that they prevent tick exposure, even though risk of contracting Lyme disease remains low,” said Ms. Earle.
“It’s important to keep protection in mind as the weather continues to be unseasonably mild, as ticks remain active until the first permanent snowfall or when air temperatures are consistently below 4 degrees.”
There are several easy ways to prevent or reduce contact with ticks:
– wear light-coloured, long-sleeved shirts and pants and socks so ticks are more visible, and enclosed shoes while working or playing outside or hiking in the woods
– pull socks up over pant legs and tuck in shirts
– spray clothing and exposed skin with an insect repellant containing DEET
– check clothing and exposed skin for ticks after working or playing outside in the bushes or tall grass and remove any ticks attached to the skin
– keep grass well cut to minimize suitable habitat for ticks on your property
Other areas where the Lyme disease bacteria is present in ticks include:
– Lunenburg County: Blue Rocks, Garden Lots, Heckmans Island and First Peninsula and areas immediately surrounding them
– Halifax Regional Municipality: Admirals Cove in Bedford
– Pictou County: areas around Melmerby Beach, Egerton, Kings Head, and Pine Tree
– Shelburne County: Gunning Cove
Although there are established areas of increased risk within Nova Scotia, ticks have been found throughout the province. Nova Scotians are reminded to enjoy the outdoors safely, regardless of where they live.
Images of the blacklegged tick, tick removal instructions and general information on Lyme disease are available online at www.gov.ns.ca/hpp/cdpc/lyme.asp .
Nova Scotia | Safety reminders for first snowstorm
NS | The Emergency Management Office is advising Nova Scotians to prepare for what could be the first wave of winter. Environment Canada has issued snowfall warnings for most of mainland Nova Scotia for Wednesday, Nov. 23.
“The great November weather may have been deceptive,” said Ross Landry, Minister of Justice. “We will get a taste of winter weather tomorrow and I want to encourage Nova Scotians to be ready and to be cautious.”
Environment Canada predicts, beginning around midday, much of the province likely will get 20 to 30 centimetres of snow through the afternoon and evening.
This could cause dangerous road conditions and wet snow or ice to build up on utility wires.
Drivers can check the latest road conditions before departing by calling 511, checking the 511 website at http://511.gov.ns.ca . The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure and Renewal website also offers highway cams at www.gov.ns.ca/tran/cameras .
Nova Scotians are also advised to take the usual precautions: install snow tires if possible, and review 72-hour home emergency and car safety kits.
People can check the EMO website at emo.gov.ns.ca/content/winter-storms for details about winter weather preparations. Weather updates are available from Environment Canada at www.weatheroffice.gc.ca/ .
Nova Scotia | Three Nova Scotians receive Medal of Bravery
FROM LEFT: Justice Minister Ross Landry and Premier Darrell Dexter stand with Nova Scotia Medal of Breavery recipients Winston Matheson of Enfield, Nancy McBay of Wolfville and Samuel Adams of Hilden, Colchester Co., as well as former Nova Scotia Chief Justice Constance Glube, who chaired the advisory panel the selected the recipents.
NS | Premier Darrell Dexter awarded three courageous Nova Scotians with the medal of bravery today, Nov. 16, for putting their lives at risk to help others.
“Nova Scotians are special people who look out for one another, whether it’s performing a small act of kindness or taking courageous risks in extreme circumstances,” said Premier Dexter. “Today’s recipients are true Nova Scotia heroes deserving of recognition and appreciation.”
This year’s Nova Scotia Medal of Bravery recipients are:
Samuel Adams, Hilden, Colchester Co.: On a stormy evening of Jan. 24, 72-year-old Samuel Adams was on his way to bed when he heard a woman’s screams. He looked out and saw flames coming from an overturned vehicle on his front lawn. Mr. Adams ran to vehicle and helped the trapped woman escape from the burning vehicle and called 911.
Winston Matheson, Enfield: On the morning of Nov. 20, 2009, Cpl. Winston Matheson was traveling Highway 107 in Dartmouth with two driver trainees on a Canadian Armed Forces bus. Cpl. Matheson was observing one of the driver trainees when an oncoming SUV crossed over into their lane and hit the bus. Cpl. Matheson was thrown through the windshield. After regaining consciousness with severe injuries, he crawled into the burning bus to rescue Cpl. Steve Keddy, who was unconscious.
Nancy McBay, Wolfville: While hiking an isolated seaside trail in Kejimkujik National Park on Aug. 25, 2010, Nancy McBay came across three children and an adult being pulled out to sea by an ocean rip current. The three children made it ashore, but the adult who had gone into to help them, continued to be swept out to sea. Without hesitation, Ms. McBay swam through the rocky, rough waters to save the person. Ms. McBay’s quick actions brought the person to safety.
This is the fourth year Nova Scotia’s Medal of Bravery have been awarded.
Recipients were selected by an advisory panel chaired by Constance Glube, former Chief Justice of Nova Scotia. The committee also includes the deputy minister of Justice, the provincial fire marshal, president of the Nova Scotia Chiefs of Police Association, the director of operations from the Emergency Management Office, the commander of Maritime Forces Atlantic, former Member of the Legislative Assembly Wayne Adams and member-at-large John Cody.
Hazmat derailment report released
Halifax NS–The Transportation Safety Board of Canada (TSB) released a report today, Nov. 7, that says the condition of a tank car was the reason for the Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway train derailment near Avondale, Pictou Co., on June 13, 2010.
The Department of Transportation and Infrastructure Renewal asked the TSB, an independent agency, to investigate the derailment as the department administers the provincial Railways Act.
The board found that the main cause of the derailment was the mechanical condition of one of the tank cars, from an abnormal repair practice. Some welds of a body centre plate of the tank car were not machined or ground smooth during a 2006 repair. The rough weld affected the car’s turning ability. The board said it appears to have been a unique situation.
The report states that train operation met all company and regulatory requirements and did not play a role in the accident.
Although not related to the cause of the accident, the TSB issued three rail safety letters from safety inspection of dangerous goods tanks cars, the reliability of rail profiles measured by geometry cars and use of low-profile joint bars.
In June 2010, a Cape Breton and Central Nova Scotia Railway freight train derailed, damaging 15 rail cars, including eight tank cars, with seven loads of liquefied petroleum gas and one residue hydrogen peroxide. There were no injuries or release of dangerous goods. Ten residences were evacuated about a week.
The complete report can be viewed online at www.tsb.gc.ca/ .