Another update to the Communicable Diseases Network Australia (CDNA) guidelines that is relevant to aged care providers.
As we reported here, research has shown that COVID patients can test positive in their faecal samples for weeks after their respiratory samples test negative – raising infection control concerns for staff assisting incontinent residents.
Under the new guidelines, the CNDA has made a number of recommendations for confirmed cases that remain persistently positive for COVID-19 in their faecal samples after they are released from isolation.
The staff workload and oversight will be great.
Noting that further or extended precautions and exclusions should be implemented on a case-by-case basis, the CDNA says:
- All cases with diarrhoea should be advised not to prepare food for others until 48 hours after symptoms have resolved.
- Cases who are employed in a role where there is an increased risk of onward transmission (e.g. healthcare workers, restaurant workers and food handlers), should be excluded from work until 48 hours after any symptoms of diarrhoea have resolved.
- Cases with ongoing diarrhoea or faecal incontinence who may have limited capacity to maintain standards of personal hygiene should be isolated until 48 hours after the resolution of these symptoms.
However, they do not recommend repeat testing until they are negative in faecal samples.
“It is recommended that people who remain persistently PCR positive in faecal samples use soap and water for hand hygiene. If this is unavailable, alcohol hand gel should be used. Education emphasising the importance of proper hand hygiene should be provided to all cases upon release from isolation,” they conclude.
A challenge for residents who may be living with dementia or have mobility issues.
You can download the full guidelines here.
