Biomaterial Database

Scabies outbreak in an extended care unit--a positive outcome. 1993

M Jack

A recent outbreak of scabies occurred in an extended care unit attached to an acute care hospital. Seventy-eight residents and over 100 staff and family members were treated at a cost of more than $20,000. The protocol in use at that time was found to be inadequate for an outbreak situation because it was based on the assumption that all staff would have previous experience of this type of problem. Close liaison with the head nurse of the affected unit, the occupational health and safety department, the medical microbiologist and the infection control department has resulted in the development of a procedure that reflects all of the concerns that were raised during the outbreak. In addition, a policy was formulated to cover problems associated with contacting medical personnel in a timely manner. This outbreak has resulted in positive changes in procedures as well as improved communication in a wide variety of departments within the hospital.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D003428	Cross Infection	Any infection which a patient contracts in a health-care institution.	Hospital Infections,Nosocomial Infections,Health Care Associated Infection,Health Care Associated Infections,Healthcare Associated Infections,Infection, Cross,Infections, Hospital,Infections, Nosocomial,Cross Infections,Healthcare Associated Infection,Hospital Infection,Infection, Healthcare Associated,Infection, Hospital,Infection, Nosocomial,Infections, Cross,Infections, Healthcare Associated,Nosocomial Infection
D004196	Disease Outbreaks	Sudden increase in the incidence of a disease. The concept includes EPIDEMICS and PANDEMICS.	Outbreaks,Infectious Disease Outbreaks,Disease Outbreak,Disease Outbreak, Infectious,Disease Outbreaks, Infectious,Infectious Disease Outbreak,Outbreak, Disease,Outbreak, Infectious Disease,Outbreaks, Disease,Outbreaks, Infectious Disease
D006757	Hospital Units	Those areas of the hospital organization not considered departments which provide specialized patient care. They include various hospital special care wards.	Hospital Unit,Unit, Hospital,Units, Hospital
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D012532	Scabies	A contagious cutaneous inflammation caused by the bite of the mite SARCOPTES SCABIEI. It is characterized by pruritic papular eruptions and burrows and affects primarily the axillae, elbows, wrists, and genitalia, although it can spread to cover the entire body.	Mange, Sarcoptic,Sarcoptic Mange
D012866	Skilled Nursing Facilities	Extended care facilities which provide skilled nursing care or rehabilitation services for inpatients on a daily basis.	Extended Care Facilities,Facilities, Skilled Nursing,Nursing Facilities, Skilled,Care Facilities, Extended,Care Facility, Extended,Extended Care Facility,Facilities, Extended Care,Facility, Extended Care,Facility, Skilled Nursing,Nursing Facility, Skilled,Skilled Nursing Facility
D017053	Infection Control	Programs of disease surveillance, generally within health care facilities, designed to investigate, prevent, and control the spread of infections and their causative microorganisms.	Control, Infection
D017063	Outcome Assessment, Health Care	Research aimed at assessing the quality and effectiveness of health care as measured by the attainment of a specified end result or outcome. Measures include parameters such as improved health, lowered morbidity or mortality, and improvement of abnormal states (such as elevated blood pressure).	Assessment, Outcome,Outcome Assessment,Outcome Assessment (Health Care),Outcomes Research,Assessment, Outcomes,Outcome Measures,Outcome Studies,Outcomes Assessment,Assessment, Outcome (Health Care),Assessments, Outcome,Assessments, Outcome (Health Care),Assessments, Outcomes,Measure, Outcome,Measures, Outcome,Outcome Assessments,Outcome Assessments (Health Care),Outcome Measure,Outcome Study,Outcomes Assessments,Research, Outcomes,Studies, Outcome,Study, Outcome