Preventing Transmission of Respiratory Viruses in the Health Care Setting
Authors: Tara N. Palmore, David K. Henderson
Journal: Annals of Internal Medicine (2021)

EditorialsDecember 2021Preventing Transmission of Respiratory Viruses in the Health Care SettingTara N. Palmore, MD and David K. Henderson, MDTara N. Palmore, MDDivision of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and The George Washington University Hospital, Washington, DC and David K. Henderson, MDHospital Epidemiology Service, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MarylandAuthor, Article, and Disclosure Informationhttps://doi.org/10.7326/M21-4026 SectionsAboutFull TextPDF ToolsAdd to favoritesDownload CitationsTrack CitationsPermissions ShareFacebookTwitterLinkedInRedditEmail Nearly 2 years into the COVID-19 pandemic, we have learned a great deal about the epidemiology, pathogenesis, and management of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Early confusion concerning modes of spread and optimal prevention strategies interfered with messaging about respiratory protection. One might suspect that experience with SARS-CoV-1 in the early 2000s may have influenced thinking about the new disease. For SARS-CoV-1 infection, asymptomatic spread was relatively uncommon, and droplet and contact precautions appeared to be highly effective in limiting transmission (1, 2). For SARS-CoV-2, although the differences between droplet and aerosol spread were initially unclear, the lack of early identification of asymptomatic ...References1. Seto WH, Tsang D, Yung RW, et al; Advisors of Expert SARS group of Hospital Authority. Effectiveness of precautions against droplets and contact in prevention of nosocomial transmission of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS). Lancet. 2003;361:1519-20. [PMID: 12737864] doi:10.1016/s0140-6736(03)13168-6 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar2. Peiris JS, Yuen KY, Osterhaus AD, et al. The severe acute respiratory syndrome. N Engl J Med. 2003;349:2431-41. [PMID: 14681510] doi:10.1056/NEJMra032498 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar3. Klompas M, Milton DK, Rhee C, et al. Current insights into respiratory virus transmission and potential implications for infection control programs. A narrative review. Ann Intern Med. 2021;174:1710-8. doi:10.7326/M21-2780 Google Scholar4. Wang CC, Prather KA, Sznitman J, et al. Airborne transmission of respiratory viruses. Science. 2021;373. [PMID: 34446582] doi:10.1126/science.abd9149 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar5. Olsen SJ, Azziz-Baumgartner E, Budd AP, et al. Decreased influenza activity during the COVID-19 pandemic - United States, Australia, Chile, and South Africa, 2020. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2020;69:1305-1309. [PMID: 32941415] doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm6937a6 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar6. Olsen SJ, Winn AK, Budd AP, et al. Changes in influenza and other respiratory virus activity during the COVID-19 pandemic - United States, 2020-2021. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 2021;70:1013-1019. [PMID: 34292924] doi:10.15585/mmwr.mm7029a1 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar7. Oster Y, Michael-Gayego A, Rivkin M, et al. Decreased prevalence rate of respiratory pathogens in hospitalized patients during the COVID-19 pandemic: possible role for public health containment measures? [Letter]. Clin Microbiol Infect. 2020;27:811-812. [PMID: 33352303] doi:10.1016/j.cmi.2020.12.007 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar8. Gala CL, Hall CB, Schnabel KC, et al. The use of eye-nose goggles to control nosocomial respiratory syncytial virus infection. JAMA. 1986;256:2706-8. [PMID: 3773177] doi:10.1001/jama.1986.03380190076028 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar9. Agah R, Cherry JD, Garakian AJ, et al. Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection rate in personnel caring for children with RSV infections. Routine isolation procedure vs routine procedure supplemented by use of masks and goggles. Am J Dis Child. 1987;141:695-7. [PMID: 3578197] doi:10.1001/archpedi.1987.04460060111049 CrossrefMedlineGoogle Scholar Author, Article, and Disclosure InformationAffiliations: Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, George Washington University School of Medicine and The George Washington University Hospital, Washington, DCHospital Epidemiology Service, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MarylandDisclosures: Disclosures can be viewed at www.acponline.org/authors/icmje/ConflictOfInterestForms.do?msNum=M21-4026.Corresponding Author: David K. Henderson, MD, Hospital Epidemiology Service, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Building 10 Room 9D46A, 10 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892; e-mail, [email protected]com.This article was published at Annals.org on 9 November 2021. PreviousarticleNextarticle Advertisement FiguresReferencesRelatedDetailsSee AlsoCurrent Insights Into Respiratory Virus Transmission and Potential Implications for Infection Control Programs Michael Klompas , Donald K. Milton , Chanu Rhee , Meghan A. Baker , and Surbhi Leekha Metrics December 2021Volume 174, Issue 12Page: 1759-1760KeywordsCOVID-19Personal protective equipmentRespiratorsRespiratory infectionsViral transmission and infection ePublished: 9 November 2021 Issue Published: December 2021 Copyright & PermissionsCopyright © 2021 by American College of Physicians. All Rights Reserved.PDF downloadLoading ...