Treating Residents with Respiratory Infections

If a resident has or is suspected of having a respiratory infection, they should be
isolated and tested. Anyone with even mild symptoms of COVID-19, regardless of
vaccination status, should receive a viral test for SARS-CoV-2 as soon as possible.

For Covid-19, Influenza, and RSV infections, implement the following minimum
precautions, additional precautions may be required depending on the virus present:
• Place infected residents in private rooms.
• Ensure good ventilation.
• Require staff members and other residents to keep a six ft distance from an infected
person to minimize risk.
• Require all staff members to wear a surgical mask, gloves and gown when working
within three to six feet of the resident. Adult Family Home workers should consider
wearing a respirator or high filtration mask like an N95 mask when caring for a
resident who has or is suspected of having a respiratory infection.
•  Put surgical masks on patients if they need to be around uninfected people or if they
need to be transported out of their room.
•  Change mask and other PPE between patients.

Notes:
Droplet precautions prevent the spread of pathogens (e.g., influenza, pertussis, meningitis)
transmitted through close-range respiratory droplets
Contact precautions prevent the spread of pathogens via direct (person-to-person) or
indirect (environmental surface) contact
Airborne precautions are infection control measures used to prevent the spread of
pathogens that remain suspended in the air, from coughing or sneezing.

Notes:
• COVID-19 spreads when an infected person breathes out droplets and very small
particles that contain the virus. Other people can breathe in these droplets and
particles, or these droplets and particles can land on others’ eyes, nose, or mouth.
In some circumstances, these droplets may contaminate the surfaces they touch.
• Per the CDC, experts think that influenza viruses spread mainly by droplets made
when people with flu cough, sneeze, or talk. Less often, a person might get influenza
by touching a surface or object that has influenza virus on it and then touching their
own mouth, nose, or possibly their eyes.
• Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) can spread when an infected person coughs or
sneezes, by direct contact with someone who has RSV, or by touching a
contaminated surface. RSV contamination on surfaces can last up to 6 hours.