Visit to IDH

Shyama Udeshika
17.08.2012
Post 1
                      IDH (Infectious Disease Hospital)
        
   Our visit to IDH-Angoda was on 17th August 2012. We ware warmly welcomed by the sister of IDH and she gave us a interesting lecture about IDH.
  It is the only infectious disease hospital in Sri Lanka.Angoda area was selected to establish IDH during British time as it was close to Colombo city. As well as it is the highest place in Colombo(42 ft above the sea level). Because of that there is good ventilation which prevent air borne diseases.
  In the past its' main function was admission and management of patients with infectious disease like small pox. Now it has other functional units.      

• Medical wards.
• Paediatric wards.
• HIV wards.
• Dengue management unit.
• ICU.
• Isolation unit.
• Clinics (Medical,paediatric,filaria)                                             

      IDH had a major role during epidemics of SARS( 2003) and Swine flu(2009).
     At the present patients with infectious diseases are mainly transferred from other hospitals to IDH. During the admission of patients special measures are taken to prevent spread of infection.  

• Patients with suspected infectious diseases are isolated in to a separate room in the OPD.
• They are given masks to prevent spread of air droplets.
• At the room of medical officer,                                                           * patient should be sit near the window.                                                * A fan should be there behind the doctor.                                           * Air flow from the room to outside through the window. In the environment air droplets are spread within a large area which minimize the chance of getting infection.                                     

    It is important to practice universal precautions to prevent the spread of infectious diseases among staff.   
   Universal precautions are,                                                                             

• Hand washing.
• PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)
• Sterilization and disinfection.
• Waste disposal.
• Environmental cleaning.                                                                            

                                          PPE                                                      
                                                                      

.                                                                                  

                                                                                                 
            PPE include several clothes which should be worn in an order.                                                                                          

1. Pyjama (Green colour,high necked and long sleeved to prevent skin contact)    
2. Overall (Orange colour)
3. Polythene apron (water proof and prevent absorbtion)    
4. Mask (N95-viral filter)
5. Goggles
6. Cap (cover head and ears)
7. Shoe cover
8. Gloves                                                                                                

      Doctors and nurses in IDH should wear PPE before enter in to isolation room of patient.
      There are separate bins outside the room for the clothes,goggles, and infectious materials. 
                                                                       

                                                                         
     Cloths are autoclaved. Other infectious things are incinerated.
 Patients' rooms and corridors are cleaned daily with 1% TCL (Topical Cloride of Lime). It is prepared by adding 30g of TCL with 1L of water.  
         The environment of IDH was cleaned and properly maintained. There ware long corridors outside the patients' room that ensures good ventilation.