TABLE 160-4.

Infection Control Procedures, Both Standard Precautions and Contact Precautions, for Prevention of Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) Infection Recommended by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

RECOMMENDATION CATEGORY, PROCEDURE	COMMENTS
Category 1-B Recommendations*
Hand washing	Water with soap or antibacterial agent or waterless antiseptic hand rub
Wearing gloves	Combined with hand washing before and after each glove change; may diminish self-inoculation
Wearing gowns	When direct contact with patient or patient secretions is likely
Wearing masks plus eye protection	Eyes and nose are major sites for inoculation
Housing patient in private room or in a cohort isolated from other patients	Patients with documented infection can be grouped and isolated from other patients; beds should be separated by >0.9 m
Use of dedicated patient care equipment	Equipment, including toys, assigned to specific patients
Sometimes Recommended with Less or No Supporting Evidence
Staff assigned according to patient's RSV status	Specific staff care only for patients with RSV infection
Visitor restrictions during RSV season	Some qualify by restricting young children only
Screening visitors for illness during RSV season	Visitor assessed by trained personnel or advised by use of an educational patient information list

^*From Garner JS. Guidelines for isolation precautions in hospitals. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1996;17:53-80.

From Hall CB. Nosocomial respiratory syncytial virus infections: the “Cold War” has not ended. Clin Infect Dis. 2000;360:588-598.