Pandemic Influenza Outbreak

Paper Summary:

This paper discusses the management perspective of infection control measures, resources and planning that would be needed to prepare for a major infectious disease outbreak of influenza in Wales. Leadership issues such as staffing, communication and clinical governance are examined within the context of a pandemic situation to assess what is likely to occur. It also highlights difficult clinical conditions experienced from working in an accident and emergency (A&E) department and the ways of working which would need to be changed and become tougher during the event of an influenza pandemic.

From the Paper:

"Infection control is a major nursing management issue involving health care associated infection (HCAIs) such as MRSA, Clostridium Difficile and the norovirus. They are infections acquired while in hospital or as a result of healthcare interventions (Jamieson, 2008). They compromise patients and staff health causing closure of wards for deep cleans to eradicate the infections. Other viruses such as community acquired pneumonia and influenza are widespread across the community. Once infections enter an A&E clinical area, transmission of these diseases can occur via several ways: indirect contact, droplet transmission and airborne transmission all of which can spread influenza (DH, 2007). Managers in an A&E department face difficulty implementing infection control precautions regularly due to the influx of people passing through, particularly if the entrance to A&E is a main thoroughfare to the hospital, such as the A&E of my placement. "

Sample of Sources Used:

• Bass, B (1990) Bass & Stodgdill's handbook of leadership: theory, research, and managerial applications. 3rd edition. New York: Free Press. Cited in Sullivan, E. & Decker, P. (2001) Effective leadership and management in nursing. Upper Saddle River. Prentice Hall.
• British Broadcasting Corporation (2008) Wales A&E figures miss key target. BBC News Online. 20 November 2008. Available from: http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7740529.stm. (Accessed 24/11/08).
• British Infection Society, British Thoracic Society, Health Protection Agency & The Department of Health (2006) Pandemic flu: clinical management of patients with an influenza-like illness during an influenza pandemic. Thorax Journal. 62, 1, 1-50. Available from: http://thorax.bmj.com/cgi/data/62/1/DC1/1
• Department of Health (1999) Campaign to stop violence against staff working in the NHS. London: HMSO. Available from:http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Publicationsandstatistics/Pressreleases/DH_4025856. (Accessed 08/12/08).
• Department of Health (2001) The epic project: developing national evidence-based guidelines for preventing healthcare association infections phase 1: guidelines for preventing hospital-acquired infections. London: HMSO.

More papers on Pandemic Influenza Outbreak:

• Term Paper # 138636 : "Pandemic Influenza Task Force (PITF) Meeting"
• Book Review # 148303 : "The Spanish Influenza"
• Analytical Essay # 149160 : "Influenza A H1N1 - A Public Health Plan"

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