For General Healthcare Settings in West Africa: Four Keys to Infection Control

Improving infection control practices in general healthcare settings can prevent infections, reduce or stop the spread of
Ebola, and protect healthcare workers, patients, and others.
Who this is for: Healthcare workers who are now or will be working in general healthcare settings in West African
countries with widespread Ebola transmission. This is not intended for those working in Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs) or
Ebola Care Centers (ECCs).
What this is for: To help reduce the spread of infection in healthcare settings with confirmed or suspected Ebola
patients, and emphasize the importance of standardizing and prioritizing infection control practices
How to use: To guide the development and implementation of an infection control plan to prevent the spread of Ebola
in healthcare facilities
Key Points

A greater awareness and adherence to recommended infection control practices must occur in general
healthcare settings to protect healthcare workers and uninfected patients from Ebola.

Preventing transmission of Ebola virus requires a well-considered plan that prioritizes 1) identifying and isolating
suspect Ebola cases, 2) protecting patients and healthcare workers, 3) cleaning up safely, and 4) managing
patients with suspected Ebola safely and compassionately.

To be effective, each component of an infection control plan must be rigorously and meticulously followed.

Although for many, infection control brings to mind a picture of a person covered head to toe in protective
equipment, preventing transmission of a germ such as Ebola virus requires much more than pulling on a pair of gloves
and a gown. It requires a well-considered plan of defense that prioritizes 1) identifying and isolating suspect Ebola cases,
2) protecting patients and healthcare workers, 3) cleaning up safely after possible Ebola patient care, and 4) managing
patients with suspected Ebola safely and compassionately.
This site provides guidance for general healthcare settings1, which are healthcare settings not officially dedicated to
providing care and treatment for Ebola patients. General healthcare settings include:

Peripheral health units

Health posts

Clinics

Outpatient departments

Inpatient units in hospitals

These general healthcare settings are on the front lines of providing care to patients with numerous medical problems.
Unlike at an Ebola Treatment Unit (ETU) where patients are known to have Ebola, the challenge at these facilities is that
patients present with a variety of conditions, and it is not known whether they have Ebola or other transmissible
pathogens. A greater awareness and adherence to recommended infection control practices must occur in these
settings to protect healthcare workers and uninfected patients from Ebola. Infection control guidance for these settings
should be able to prevent transmission of a variety of pathogens, including Ebola, and be based on well-established
infection prevention and control practices.

There are four keys to infection prevention and control in general healthcare settings:
1. Identifying and isolating suspect Ebola cases
o

Screening patients at initial contact with the healthcare system

Using case definitions to evaluate patients

Setting up the healthcare facility and patient flow

Implementing other administrative controls

2. Protecting patients and healthcare workers

o

Practicing hand hygiene regularly

Safe injection and sharps injury prevention practices

Proper phlebotomy (blood drawing) technique

Appropriate use of personal protective equipment (PPE)

3. Cleaning up safely
o

Making cleaning solutions

Cleaning and disinfecting the patient care environment

Managing waste safely

4. Manage patients with suspected Ebola safely and compassionately

o

Following protocols for notifying authorities about a suspected Ebola case and coordinating care

Safe management of suspected Ebola cases, prior to transfer to ETU

Communicate with patients to effectively and compassionately educate them about their suspected
illness and what to expect during their treatment process

The information on this site is constantly being updated to create a step-by-step framework through which all of the
above principles can be achieved. For an infection control plan to be effective, each component of the plan must be
rigorously and meticulously followed at all times. It is crucial that workers in international healthcare facilities are well
trained in all aspects of infection control and that they make sure infection control procedures are consistently followed.
This practice will save lives and help stop the spread of Ebola.
References
1. Guidance on this site is aimed at general healthcare settings and not intended for Ebola Treatment Units (ETUs)
and Ebola Care Centers (ECCs) [(sometimes referred to as Ebola Community Care Centers (ECCCs)].