Flu Season

The Flu:   Information You Should Know      

January 2004

The flu season is in full swing and reports are in that the 2003-2004 season could be severe. The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) recommends that residents of nursing homes and other long-term care facilities get vaccinated against influenza.  The CDC has issued guidelines for infection control in health care facilities, including long-term care facilities.  Please make sure that your loved one’s nursing home is following these guidelines:

1.  Patients with influenza should be placed on Droplet Precautions.  This means that residents should be moved to a private room.  When a private room is not available, place the resident in a room with a resident who has an active infection with the same microorganism but with no other infection.  When these two options are not available, maintain special separation of at least 3 ft. between the infected resident and other residents and visitors.  Health care workers should wear a mask and gloves when working within 3 ft. of the resident. Limit the movement of and transport of the resident from the room to essential purposes.

2. Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette should be incorporated into infection control practices.  Cover the nose/mouth when coughing or sneezing; use tissues to contain respiratory secretions and dispose of them in the nearest waste receptacle after use;  perform hand hygiene (e.g., hand washing with non-antimicrobial soap and water, alcohol-based hand rub, or antiseptic handwash ) after having contact with respiratory secretions and contaminated objects/materials. Healthcare facilities should ensure the availability of materials for adhering to Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette in waiting areas for patients and visitors.

3.  Visitors who have any respiratory illness symptoms should be discouraged from visiting patients.

4.  Health-care workers who are ill should be restricted from working until they are healthy.

5.  If a suspected influenza outbreak occurs among nursing home or hospitalized patients, steps to identify influenza as the cause and to control its spread should be instituted.

6.  The primary measure to prevent patients from getting influenza in a health-care setting is vaccination of both patients and health-care workers.  Individuals over 65 should be routinely vaccinated with the pneumococcal vaccine as well.  It is not too late to be immunized! 

If you would like more information on influenza in long-term care settings and the flu in general, visit the CDC website: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/