by Greg Sperber, MD, DOM

So there is attempt to change the name from the Swine flu to H1N1 influenza. Half a dozen of one…They are both technically correct and it doesn’t really matter. What does matter is how we deal with our patients. First we should be discouraging patients with flu-like symptoms from seeing us as they could contaminate others and current guidelines are to stay home when feeling ill.

If you do see patients the CD has the following recommendations for healthcare professionals (from http://www.cdc.gov/swineflu/guidelines_infection_control.htm):

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• Patients with suspected or confirmed case-status should be placed in a single-patient room with the door kept closed.

• The ill person should wear a surgical mask when outside of the patient room, and should be encouraged to wash hands frequently and follow respiratory hygiene practices. Cups and other utensils used by the ill person should be washed with soap and water before use by other persons. Routine cleaning and disinfection strategies used during influenza seasons can be applied to the environmental management of swine influenza.

• Standard, Droplet and Contact precautions should be used for all patient care activities, and maintained for 7 days after illness onset or until symptoms have resolved.

• Maintain adherence to hand hygiene by washing with soap and water or using hand sanitizer immediately after removing gloves and other equipment and after any contact with respiratory secretions.

• Pending clarification of transmission patterns for this virus, personnel providing direct patient care for suspected or confirmed swine influenza A (H1N1) cases should wear a fit-tested disposable N95 respirator when entering the patient room.

While surgical masks are shown to not prevent getting a flu, they are useful to minimize a sick person from transmitting the flu. N95 respirators may be useful and are currently being recommended for healthcare professionals in close contact with flu patients.

Again be cautious not fearful in dealing with patients.

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