Toronto Public Health: Infection Prevention and Control Guide for Homelessness Service Settings

AUTHORITY: Toronto Public Health

DATE PRODUCED: Revised September 2019

TYPE: Guidance/protocol

THE QUESTIONS IT ANSWERS:

• What type of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) needs to be utilized for staff transporting individuals? 
• What are routine practices for infection prevention and control? 
• How should food be handled? 

SHORT DESCRIPTION:

This guidance document was compiled by Toronto Public Health (TPH) and is a collection of evidence-based practice recommendations from expert groups in infection prevention and control (IPAC) across North America.

The main purpose of this document is to provide information to homelessness service setting providers and workers on IPAC principles. IPAC is the use of evidence-based practices and procedures that when applied consistently, can help prevent or reduce the spread of germs. The goal is that homelessness service setting providers and workers will utilize and adapt the recommendations from this document to incorporate IPAC in daily homelessness service setting operations to protect clients and other workers. This document does not provide specific recommendations for healthcare settings in homelessness service settings and healthcare settings should follow healthcare specific IPAC recommendations. 

QUALIFICATIONS:

This document provides general guidance in how to protect against infection and the spread of germs, but does not specifically cover the coronavirus.