Japanese Society for Infection Prevention and Control-Online Journal

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Intervention in a Pre-pandemic Influenza A Outbreak and Response in the Pharmaceutical Department

Tomomi SANO¹⁾²⁾, Yukako KUGUMINATO³⁾, Michi SHOJI⁴⁾, Keiichi KOIDO⁵⁾, Hisashi BABA⁶⁾, Tamae HIRAMATSU⁷⁾, Mika SHIOTSUKA¹⁾, Osamu KOBAYASHI¹⁾ and Satoshi IWATA¹⁾
¹⁾Department of Infection Control and Prevention, National Cancer Center Hospital, ²⁾Department of Pharmacy, National Cancer Center Hospital, ³⁾Department of Nursing, National Hospital Organization Disaster Medical Center, ⁴⁾Department of Laboratory Testing, National Center for Global Health and Medicine Hospital, ⁵⁾Department of Pharmacy, National Hospital Organization Yokohama Medical Center, ⁶⁾Department of Center for Nutrition Support and Infection Control, Gifu University Hospital, ⁷⁾Department of Nursing, National Cancer Center Hospital East

Influenza outbreak in the National Cancer Center Hospital at the end of summer season was reported. The Infection Control Team (ICT) intervened after receiving reports of two confirmed influenza diagnoses on September 2, 201X; a syndrome survey was initiated on September 3, 201X to detect staff with flu-like symptoms as early as possible. It was thought to be related to the ward event held on August 30, and wearing masks and practicing thorough hand hygiene in that ward was advised. The physical condition of the participants in the event was also assessed.
In the Pharmacy Department, there were several non-participating staff with flu-like symptoms in the ward events; hence, environmental wiping to prevent the spread of the disease in the department was strengthened.
By the evening of September 4, 18 staff members (pharmacists, nurses, and dieticians) had developed the disease, and on September 7, two inpatients were found to have the disease, but not after that.
Propagation across multiple professions was found to be due to participation in several events.
In the pharmacy department, several staff were found to have flu-like symptoms even before participating in the related events; hence, portable hand sanitizers were introduced to reinforce hand hygiene.
The manual on how to respond to an outbreak was revised.
As a result of the rapid response of ICT, the disease was contained and a serious outbreak was prevented. The existing manual was found to be inadequate; thus, it was revised. While keeping in mind the possible infections such as influenza infection outside the epidemic season, the need for adequate and standardized infection control measures is being reaffirmed.

Key words：influenza, outbreak, before the epidemic, department of pharmacy, ICT

e-mail: tosano＠ncc.go.jp

Received: December 14, 2021
Accepted: March 25, 2022

37 (5)：190─197,2022