News

Tell us about your infection prevention and control (IPAC) learning needs!

Over the last few weeks, there has been an increase in infection prevention and control (IPAC) complaints and lapses involving Ottawa medical clinics.

To help prevent future IPAC complaints and lapses, Ottawa Public Health (OPH) wants to understand the learning needs of Ottawa community-based healthcare providers regarding IPAC.

OPH has designed a 10-minute survey to assess your current IPAC practices, barriers to adherence to IPAC best practices, and IPAC learning needs. To complete this survey...

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Glucose meter(s) and multi-patient use

To: Ottawa Health Care ProvidersFrom: Dr. Geneviève Cadieux, Associate Medical Officer of HealthDate: July 30, 2018

Ottawa Public Health has seen a surge in infection prevention and control (IPAC) complaints over the last 2 weeks. A number of our inspections have revealed that glucose meters designed for single-patient use are being used on multiple patients. We recommend the following to ensure the safety of your patients and your clinic:

• Ensure that all glucose meter(s) used in your clinic are...

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West Nile virus confirmed in Ottawa area mosquitoes

To: Ottawa Physicians and Nurse Practitioners, Emergency Departments and Walk-in Clinics, IPAC teamsFrom: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of Health, Ottawa Public HealthDate: July 26, 2018

Ottawa Public Health (OPH) is writing to heighten your awareness of the possibility of illness from West Nile Virus (WNV) infection in Ottawa. OPH has received the first positive results for WNV from Ottawa area mosquito traps for the 2018 season. This result comes relatively early in the year and...

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Cyclosporiasis acquired in Ontario

To: Emergency Departments, Emergency and Infectious Diseases Physicians, Hospital IPAC Teams, Family Physicians and Nurse PractitionersFrom: Dr. Monir Taha, Associate Medical Officer of HealthDate: July 25, 2018

Ontario and Ottawa are experiencing an increase in the number of Cyclospora infections. If patients present with cyclosporiasis-compatible symptoms between now and the end of summer, please test for cyclosporiasis to support prompt treatment of patients to lessen duration of symptoms and...

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Ordering testing for HBV, HCV, and HIV related to the Infection Prevention and Control (IPAC) Lapse at a Stittsville Clinic

To: Ottawa Health Care ProvidersFrom: Dr. Geneviève Cadieux, Associate Medical Officer of HealthDate: July 24, 2018

Ottawa-area laboratories have contacted Ottawa Public Health to flag some issues related to HBV, HCV, and HIV test ordering for patients potentially exposed to the infection prevention and control (IPAC) lapse at the Main Street Family Medical Centre.

To order testing for a patient potentially exposed to the IPAC lapse at the Main Street Family Medical Centre, please follow these...

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