Transmission and Control of Respiratory Viral Infections in the Healthcare Setting

Abstract

Purpose of the review Viral respiratory infections have been recognized as a cause of severe illness in immunocompromised and non-immunocompromised hosts. This acknowledgement is a consequence of improvement in diagnosis and better understanding of transmission. Available vaccines and antiviral drugs for prophylaxis and treatment have been developed accordingly. Viral respiratory pathogens are increasingly recognized as nosocomial pathogens as well. The purpose of this review is to describe the most frequent and relevant nosocomial viral respiratory infections, their mechanisms of transmission and the infection control measures to prevent their spread in the healthcare setting. Recent findings Although most mechanisms of transmission and control measures of nosocomial viral infections are already known, improved diagnostic tools allow better characterization of these infections and also lead to the discovery of new viruses such as the coronavirus, which is the cause of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or the human bocavirus. Also, the ability to understand better the impact, dissemination and prevention of these viruses, allows us to improve the measures to prevent these infections. Summary Healthcare viral respiratory infections increase patient morbidity. Each virus has a different mechanism of transmission; therefore, early detection and prompt implementation of infection control measures are very important in order to avoid their transmission in the hospital setting.

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“…Although it remains unknown when sore throat occurs during the development of COVID-19, it may be the first sign of the disease or often occurs during the early stage of upper respiratory tract infection. 33 Sore throat may reflect the higher transmission of droplets in the early phase of COVID-19 accompanied by upper respiratory tract infection.…”

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“…As such, appropriate training before accessing surgical theatres is highly advisable: all masks should be fit-tested and not just fitchecked, and a risk assessment should be conducted by the entire team (surgeons, anaesthetists, scrub nurses and operating department practitioners) to select the needed PPE. This process is meant to ensure protection of the entire staff from both droplets (which are short lasting around the surgical site) and microdroplets (which, once generated, can last for over 30 min in the environment) [1]. On the other hand, Level 1 PPE consisting of surgical mask, plastic apron and non-sterile gloves should be considered whenever engaging on low-risk close patient contact clinical activities, such as ward rounds, physical examination and diagnostic imaging [15].…”

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