When to Involve Hospital Infection Control Department
Yes, the hospital Infection Control (IC) department must be immediately notified for any patient with suspected or confirmed highly pathogenic infectious disease, probable cases requiring isolation precautions, or when there is potential for nosocomial transmission that could affect other patients or healthcare workers. 1
Mandatory Notification Scenarios
High-Risk Infectious Presentations Requiring IC Involvement
Patients meeting criteria for probable SARS or other highly pathogenic infectious diseases must have the hospital infection control representative informed immediately, along with maintaining a list of all staff who have contact with the patient 1
Any patient requiring negative pressure isolation or specialized infection control measures necessitates IC department notification to ensure proper room assignment, PPE protocols, and staff training 1
Patients with fever, chills, and hemodynamic instability during outbreak seasons (such as influenza) require droplet precautions and IC notification, especially when presenting from long-term care facilities 2, 3
Specific Clinical Triggers
Fever ≥38°C with respiratory symptoms AND epidemiological risk factors (travel to endemic areas within 10 days, close contact with confirmed cases, or laboratory exposure) mandate IC involvement for proper classification and isolation protocols 1
Suspected healthcare-associated transmission events including multiple patients with similar symptoms, unusual resistance patterns, or potential procedural contamination require IC investigation 4, 5, 6
Immunocompromised patients with fever requiring empiric antibiotics should trigger IC notification to ensure appropriate isolation and surveillance, particularly in neutropenic fever cases 2
IC Department Responsibilities Upon Notification
Immediate Actions
Verification of appropriate isolation precautions including negative pressure rooms when available, or single-room isolation with proper signage and access restrictions 1
Ensuring healthcare workers adhere to proper PPE protocols with minimum requirements of gown, gloves, goggles or visors, and appropriate respiratory protection (masks conforming to at least EN149:2001 standards for SARS-like illnesses) 1
Establishing contact tracing protocols by maintaining comprehensive lists of all staff, visitors, and patients who had contact with the index case 1
Surveillance and Monitoring Functions
Implementation of staff health surveillance requiring all exposed healthcare workers to monitor for symptoms during the incubation period (typically 10 days for respiratory pathogens) and mandating work exclusion if fever develops 1
Coordination of specimen handling protocols ensuring all samples are double-bagged, labeled as biohazard, and processed with appropriate infection control measures 1
Oversight of environmental decontamination particularly for high-risk areas like radiology departments, endoscopy suites, and patient transport routes 1
When IC Notification May Not Be Required
Lower-Risk Scenarios
Stable, immunocompetent patients with fever and no signs of sepsis or organ dysfunction who are undergoing diagnostic workup may not require immediate IC involvement, provided standard precautions are maintained and blood cultures have been obtained 2
Persons under investigation (PUI) with mild symptoms who do not meet criteria for probable cases and can be managed in primary care with 72-hour follow-up do not require routine IC notification, though local Health Protection Units should be informed 1
Common Pitfalls to Avoid
Delaying IC notification until diagnosis is confirmed is inappropriate—notification should occur when suspicion arises based on clinical and epidemiological criteria, not after laboratory confirmation 1
Assuming standard precautions are sufficient for all infectious presentations without consulting IC can lead to healthcare worker exposure and nosocomial transmission, particularly with aerosol-generating procedures 1
Failing to restrict visitors appropriately can compromise isolation effectiveness—IC should guide visitor policies, typically limiting access to next of kin or legal guardians only 1
Transporting patients unnecessarily increases transmission risk—IC can coordinate bedside diagnostics (portable radiography, point-of-care testing) to minimize patient movement 1