Reported variability in healthcare facility policies regarding healthcare personnel working while experiencing influenza-like illnesses: An emerging infections network survey

Hilary M Babcock; Susan E Beekmann; Satish K Pillai; Scott Santibanez; Leslie Lee; David T Kuhar; Angela P Campbell; Anita Patel; Philip M Polgreen

doi:10.1017/ice.2019.305

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Reported variability in healthcare facility policies regarding healthcare personnel working while experiencing influenza-like illnesses: An emerging infections network survey

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Reported variability in healthcare facility policies regarding healthcare personnel working while experiencing influenza-like illnesses: An emerging infections network survey

Hilary M Babcock, Susan E Beekmann, Satish K Pillai, Scott Santibanez, Leslie Lee, David T Kuhar, Angela P Campbell, Anita Patel and Philip M Polgreen

Infection control and hospital epidemiology, Vol.41(1), pp.80-85

01/2020

DOI: 10.1017/ice.2019.305

PMCID: PMC7018563

PMID: 31722757

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https://digitalcommons.wustl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=9629&context=open_access_pubsView

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Abstract

Presenteeism, or working while ill, by healthcare personnel (HCP) experiencing influenza-like illness (ILI) puts patients and coworkers at risk. However, hospital policies and practices may not consistently facilitate HCP staying home when ill. We conducted a mixed-methods survey in March 2018 of Emerging Infections Network infectious diseases physicians, describing institutional experiences with and policies for HCP working with ILI. Of 715 physicians, 367 (51%) responded. Of 367, 135 (37%) were unaware of institutional policies. Of the remaining 232 respondents, 206 (89%) reported institutional policies regarding work restrictions for HCP with influenza or ILI, but only 145 (63%) said these were communicated at least annually. More than half of respondents (124, 53%) reported that adherence to work restrictions was not monitored or enforced. Work restrictions were most often not perceived to be enforced for physicians-in-training and attending physicians. Nearly all (223, 96%) reported that their facility tracked laboratory-confirmed influenza (LCI) in patients; 85 (37%) reported tracking ILI. For employees, 109 (47%) reported tracking of LCI and 53 (23%) reported tracking ILI. For independent physicians, not employed by the facility, 30 (13%) reported tracking LCI and 11 (5%) ILI. More than one-third of respondents were unaware of whether their institutions had policies to prevent HCP with ILI from working; among those with knowledge of institutional policies, dissemination, monitoring, and enforcement of these policies was highly variable. Improving communication about work-restriction policies, as well as monitoring and enforcement, may help prevent the spread of infections from HCP to patients.

Health Personnel - statistics & numerical data

Health Policy

Humans

Influenza Vaccines - therapeutic use

Influenza, Human - epidemiology

Influenza, Human - prevention & control

Physicians - statistics & numerical data

Presenteeism - statistics & numerical data

Surveys and Questionnaires

United States - epidemiology

Details

Title: Subtitle: Reported variability in healthcare facility policies regarding healthcare personnel working while experiencing influenza-like illnesses: An emerging infections network survey
Creators: Hilary M Babcock - Washington University in St. Louis
Susan E Beekmann - University of Iowa
Satish K Pillai - National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Scott Santibanez - National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Leslie Lee - National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
David T Kuhar - National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases
Angela P Campbell - National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Anita Patel - National Center for Immunization and Respiratory Diseases
Philip M Polgreen - University of Iowa
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Infection control and hospital epidemiology, Vol.41(1), pp.80-85
DOI: 10.1017/ice.2019.305
PMID: 31722757
PMCID: PMC7018563
NLM abbreviation: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol
ISSN: 0899-823X
eISSN: 1559-6834
Grant note: U50 CI000358 / NCPDCID CDC HHS UL1 TR002537 / NCATS NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 01/2020
Academic Unit: Infectious Diseases; Epidemiology; Injury Prevention Research Center; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984359928702771

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3 Times Cited - Web of Science