CM/Spotlight: Outbreak Control Preparing A Pandemic Plan A well-understood plan can be the difference between the proper handling of an outbreak and mass hysteria. By: Aaron Baunee, managing editor T Though the chances of a communicable disease outbreak at your facility may seem slim and the notion farfetched, the prospect is all too real and many facilities are ill prepared to handle such a fiasco. As with most aspects in life, extensive research and strategization are the foundations of any suc-cessful system — be it a cleaning regimen or a pandemic plan. Increasing national media coverage of H1N1 Influenza A (swine flu) virus infections have caused many building service contractors and in-house operations to rethink the way they clean and disinfect their buildings. The spread of infectious diseases is nothing new, as norovirus, vancomycin-resistant entero-cocci (VRE), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Clostridium difficile ( C. diff ), shigella, listeria, etc., have caused calamity for cleaners over the years. However, it is a general practice to “not rock the boat” unless outside stimuli warrant such action. That tipping point has been reached — arguably during the severe acute respiratory syn-drome (SARS) scare of 2003 — and more com-panies and organizations are putting their ideas on paper and drafting formal pandemic prepared-ness plans for their facilities. Organize the thoughts of management and staff and aid in the implementation and exe-cution of the plan. “Iʼve never seen a written plan without some intrinsic value,” says Thomas Bell, Ph.D., product safety and regulatory affairs senior scientist with the Procter & Gamble Company. A plan not only provides peace of mind for man-agers and supervisors if and when an outbreak occurs, but also increases the knowledgebase of custodial professionals and serves as a refresher course to previous training. For additional information about drafting a pan-demic preparedness plan, visit: http://emer-gency.cdc.gov; www.who.int/en; or www.cpha.ca/en/default.aspx. The Importance Of A Plan for more info Visit www.cmmonline.com and type in search keyword: Infection . For more information on related products, visit www.cmmonline.com , select SUPPLIER SEARCH from the main navigation bar, and enter keyword: Consulting . While there are numerous reasons why a written pandemic preparedness plan is important, the benefits all relate to the improved management of resources. A written plan can help: Set expectations for the handling of any sit-uation that may arise by both management and staff Define what products and techniques should be used in various circumstances Allowing sufficient contact or dwell time on surfaces is critical for the effectiveness of disinfectants. 20 CM/Cleaning & Maintenance Management ® • February 2010 Image courtesy of Procter & Gamble Professional
CMM – Archives Feb 2010: 20
