St. Luke’s Hospital has implemented a flu policy hospital-wide because of numerous patients coming to the emergency department with influenza-like illness (ILI).

St. Luke’s Hospital is also restricting visitors under the age of 18. Anyone who has any flu-like symptoms are asked not to visit for the health and safety of the hospital’s patients.

“Although there has been a recent decrease in the percentage of in-house flu tests coming back positive, the threshold for implementing visitor restrictions is generally accepted to be when the number of visits to emergency rooms and outpatient providers because of influenza-like illness is 10 percent or more of the total visits,” explained Megan Parker, RN, Infection Preventionist at St. Luke’s Hospital. “Approximately 11 percent of patients coming to St. Luke’s Emergency Department during the first week of January were because of cough, flu-like illness and/or fever.”

Since “flu season” arrived in the area in September 2013, St. Luke’s Hospital Lab Services confirmed about 20 percent of the patients tested for flu have been positive, according to Jody Flynn, lab manager.

According to Parker, the common cold and flu are both contagious viral infections. Because these two types of illnesses have similar symptoms, it can be difficult to tell the difference between the two based on symptoms alone.

Nasal congestion, sore throat and sneezing are common with colds, Parker said.

“Both colds and flu bring coughing, headache and chest discomfort. With the flu, though, you are likely to run a high fever for several days and have headache, body aches, fatigue and weakness,” she explained.

Flu symptoms are usually more severe than cold symptoms and come on quickly. Symptoms of seasonal flu include sore throat, fever, headache, muscle aches and soreness, congestion and cough.

“If you become ill, the most important thing to do is stay home and rest so that you get well and you don’t infect others,” Parker said. “If you develop worsening of your condition or complications, it is important to seek additional medical attention.”

Parker adds, “We know this visitation restriction is difficult for families, but our first responsibility is to protect our patients. We appreciate the understanding and cooperation of the community in keeping our patients and the staff who care for them as healthy as we can.”

 

– article submitted
by Kathy Woodham