We are officially in cold and flu season. Do you get a yearly flu shot and/or regularly see an acupuncturist during cold and flu season? That is perfect to boost your immune system and keeps you safer from inevitable exposures. That being said, how do you prevent the spread of contagious infections? Beyond the common cold or flu, some people will develop more severe infections this season. Many such infections are very contagious.
This blog helps you prevent the spread of highly contagious infections. Below are recommended precautions if you or a loved one is diagnosed with a highly contagious infection. I have noted the specific infection names below so you can keep them in mind.
You will see 3 transmission precaution categories for patients in hospitals or care facilities.
Contact precautions
Contact Plus precautions
Droplet and Airborne precautions
Contact precautions are for:
- Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA)
- Vancomycin Resistant Enterococci (VRE)
MRSA and VRE need Contact precautions because they are spread by direct or indirect contact with the patient or the patient’s environment. Therefore being in the same room with your loved one means you need safety precautions. These types of infections often occur after a hospitalization or while in skilled nursing facilities.
What are Contact precautions?
Before entering the patient room:
- Wash your hands with a sanitizing gel OR soap and water.
- Put on a disposable gown over your clothing. (Remember to tie your gown securely.)
- Put on gloves. (Pull gloves over your gown cuffs.)
When exiting the patient room:
- Remove your gown first then gloves. (Pull gloves off so that they roll inside-out as you dispose of them.)
- Wash your hands with a sanitizing gel OR soap and water.
Contact Plus precautions are for:
- Clostridium difficile (CDI)
- Norovirus
Clostridium difficile (CDI) and Norovirus are also spread by direct or indirect contact with the patient or the patient’s environment. However, with these infections, spores are shed by the body. Additionally, patient rooms and equipment need to be cleaned with sporicidal agents like bleach. Also: when you exit the room of a person with a virus requiring Contact Plus precautions, you must wash your hands with soap and water, not just sanitizing gel.
What are Contact Plus precautions?
Before entering the patient room:
- Wash your hands with a sanitizing gel OR soap and water.
Put on a disposable gown over your clothing. (Remember to tie gown securely.)
- Put on gloves. (Pull gloves over your gown cuffs.)
When exiting the patient room:
- Remove gown first then gloves. (Pull gloves off so that they roll inside- out as you dispose of them.)
- Wash your hands with a soap and water, NOT sanitizing gel.
Droplet precautions are for:
- Bordetella Pertussis
- Influenza virus
- Neisseria meningitidis
Some pathogens like Pertussis, flu and Neisseria meningitidis cause coughing or runny nose. These infections can then be transmitted by droplets which hang in the air. Hand washing and wearing a simple mask creates a barrier to help prevent contracting illness.
What are Droplet precautions?
Before entering the patient room:
- Put on general face mask.
When exiting the patient room:
- Remove mask.
- Wash your hands with a sanitizing gel OR soap and water.
Airborne precautions are for:
- Rubeola virus aka Measles
- Varicella virus aka Chickenpox
- Mycobacterium Turberculosis aka TB
You may notice that Airborne precautions are similar to Droplet precautions. However with Airborne precautions, you need face masks with advanced filtration. Airborne precautions are for infections in which droplets hang in the air and travel over very long distances. This is used for Measles, Chickenpox and TB. Loved ones who are hospitalized and require Airborne precautions will also be placed in special Airborne Infection Isolation Rooms (AIIR), aka negative pressure hospital rooms.
What are Airborne precautions?
Before entering the patient room:
- Wash your hands with a sanitizing gel OR soap and water.
- Family members typically wear N95 Respirator masks
- Staff may wear a Powered Air Purifying Respirator mask (PAPR)
When exiting the patient room:
- Remove N95 Respirator masks or Powered Air Purifying Respirator mask (PAPR)
- Wash your hands with a sanitizing gel OR soap and water.
These are the infectious disease and currently recommended safety precautions for you. I hope that you and your family will remain happy and healthy this season. If your loved one does develop some of the specific infections discussed here, I hope this blog will be helpful to you.
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