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Infection control team heading to pediatric long-term care facilities

NJBIZ - 11/2/2018

A team of infection control experts and epidemiologists from the state Department of Health will visit University Hospital in Newark and four pediatric long-term care facilities in November to conduct training and assessments of infection control procedures, a spokesperson for the department told NJBIZ.A team of infection control experts and epidemiologists from the state Department of Health will visit University Hospital in Newark and four pediatric long-term care facilities in November to conduct training and assessments of infection control procedures, a spokesperson for the department told NJBIZ.

“Facility outbreaks are not always preventable, but in response to what we have seen in Wanaque, we are taking aggressive steps to minimize the chance they occur among the most vulnerable patients in New Jersey,” DOH Commissioner Dr. Shereef Elnahal said in a statement.

Elnahal said that pediatric long-term care facilities like the Wanaque Center and University Hospital’s neonatal ICU, take care of extremely medically fragile infants and children.

“We will deploy our Infection Control Assessment and Response (ICAR) team to Wanaque and all similar facilities, as well as University Hospital,” he said. “ICAR teams are experts in infection control, conducting 160 voluntary, on-site assessments in hospitals, long-term care and outpatient facilities, dialysis centers, and even Ebola treatment units. They have also hosted educational webinars on infection control.”

The team will visit University Hospital, Wanaque Center for Nursing & Rehabilitation in Haskell, Voorhees Pediatric Facility in Voorhees, and Children’s Specialized Hospital in Toms River and Mountainside.

DOH is investigating four cases of an opportunistic bacterial pathogen primarily associated with hospital-acquired infections in the neonatal intensive care unit of University Hospital.

The department became aware of the presence of the bacteria, known as acinetobacter baumannii, on Oct. 1, according to a release. Two DOH teams have been closely monitoring the situation, infection control protocols are being followed and they are tracking cases of the infection, the department said. The DOH inspection team revealed major infection control deficiencies.

A premature baby, who had been cared for at the hospital and had the bacteria, was transferred to another facility and passed away at the end of September, prior to the department's notification of problems in the NICU.

In a letter sent to John Kastanis, president and CEO of University Hospital, the DOH ordered a directed plan of correction that requires the hospital to employ a full-time certified infection control practitioner consultant, who will report to the DOH on immediate actions taken in the coming days. The DOH is also exploring further actions it may need to take to ensure patient safety.

Meanwhile, DOH confirmed over the weekend another child had died at the Wanaque Center for Nursing and Rehabilitation in Haskell, bringing the number of recent deaths at the facility to nine.

The latest death occurred Friday when a child succumbed to adenovirus, a respiratory virus that can cause mild or serious illness, though serious illness is less common. According to the health department, a total of 25 pediatric cases have been associated with the adenovirus outbreak. A staff member at the facility who has since recovered also became ill.

Affected children in the facility’s pediatric ventilator unit had severely compromised immune systems and respiratory problems before the outbreak began, according to the health department. The children range in age from toddlers to young adults. The majority are under the age of 18.

The facility said that it would not admit new residents for the duration of the outbreak. Copyright 2018 BridgeTower Media. All Rights Reserved.

CREDIT: Anthony Vecchione