The Outbreak Prevention and Infection Control (OPIC) team's mission is to provide support to healthcare and congregate care facilities as you mitigate and manage risks due to communicable diseases and emergencies. We do this by promoting high levels of readiness, ensuring effective responses, and providing training and educational opportunities. Our monthly newsletters include: news and guidance updates, community status updates, available trainings and other educational opportunities.
Purpose: to help employers understand the steps they can take to prevent the spread of COVID-19 and to respond quickly and appropriately to cases and outbreaks in the workplace.
Brief: updates to the existing guidance include the addition of new resources related to Cal/OSHA COVID-19 Prevention Non-Emergency Regulations, the update of references to outbreak and reporting guidance, and the update of recommendations and links on masking.
Primary Authoring Department: Occupational Health Branch (OHB)
Healthcare facilities should implement recommended precautionary measures to keep individuals safe and comfortable during extremely hot weather. Facilities must have contingency plans in place to deal with the loss of air conditioning, or in the case when no air conditioning is available, take measures to ensure patients and residents are free of adverse conditions that may cause heat-related health complications. Facilities must report extreme heat conditions that compromise patient health and safety and/or require an evacuation, transfer, or discharge of patients. Review the linked AFL for full guidance and resources.
Preparation For Extreme Heat, Public Safety Power Shutoffs, And Wildfire Emergencies
PIN 23-13-CCLD reminds providers about the need to prepare for extreme heat, public safety power shutoffs (PSPS), and wildfire emergencies. It also provides information on the Everbridge Mass Notification System and how it will be used to notify providers of disasters, such as fires and PSPS.
Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms (MDROs) News, Resources, and Trainings Marin County Public Health is maintaining our focus on the threat of Multi-Drug Resistant Organisms. Actions and ongoing projects related to this topic include:
Monitoring and reporting Carbapenemase Producing Organisms as new CDC guidance.
Active surveillance and mitigation for Candida auris in specific high risk settings.
Promotion, education and support for Antibiotic Stewardship Programs.
Participation the North Bay Multi-County MDRO workgroup.
The North Bay MDRO workgroup collaborates and shares educational opportunities, information about ongoing case investigations and outbreaks, best practices for specimen handling and lab use, issues of policy and strategy. We work closely with CDPH HAI, CDPH Epidemiology, the Microbiological Diseases Laboratory, CDC and others as needed. Learnings from this setting inform our local health department practices and recommendations to partners like you.
Stay tuned for upcoming educational opportunities and news.
Marin Updates
Marin County Public Health has seven data dashboards reflecting local public health priorities and displaying local public health data.
Climate Change and Infectious Diseases
This week the CDC reported cases of malaria that were acquired in the United States. The presence of malaria-carrying mosquitoes in Florida signals the northern migration of tropical disease vectors due to climate change. No locally acquired malaria cases have been reported in California. A wet spring has increased local mosquito activity. The Marin/Sonoma Mosquito & Vector Control District samples local mosquito populations for emerging diseases and offers guidance for personal protection.
This “on-demand” program is specifically targeted to infection preventionist nurses, however all who have a leadership role in infection prevention in a long term care setting will benefit. Infection Preventionists, Directors of Nursing, Assistant Directors of Nursing, Directors of Staff Development and more will have the opportunity to learn directly from an important leader in the field of infection prevention in long term care setting, Dolly Greene, RN, BSN, CIC. The CALTCM Infection Preventionist Orientation Program provides all the foundational information an Infection Preventionist needs to get started in their role through four (4) training modules:
Module 1 – Infection Preventionist Duties and Outcome Surveillance
Module 2 – Process Surveillance and Antibiotic Stewardship
Module 3 – Occupational Health & Immunization Program
Module 4 – Infection Preventionist Resources and Tools
Sign-up for the HAI Program mailing list to stay up-to-date on HAI and antibiotic resistance prevention, response, and surveillance across the healthcare continuum.
Marin County Public Health's OPIC Monthly Newsletters provide updates regarding guidance, status updates, and professional training opportunities. Please contact Ombudsman, Dan Steckline, to be added to those meeting invitations.
Email: DSteckline@marincounty.org
Next Ombudsman meeting is: Tuesday, August 29, 2:00-3:00 PM
