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Infection Prevention, and Control Guidelines for Primary Care Physicians
Droplet Precautions
Introduction:
Droplet transmission refers to the large droplets generated from the respiratory tract of the source patient during coughing, sneezing and talking. These droplets are propelled a short distance, <2 metre, through the air and deposited on the mucosa of the eyes, nose, and mouth of the potential new host. Large droplets do not remain suspended in the air, therefore special ventilation is not required.
All patients with infectious diseases that are spread by respiratory droplets will be placed on Droplet Precautions. Consider adding Contact Precautions for children and patients who are unable to maintain/contain their own excretions/secretions.
Disease Examples:
- Febrile Respiratory Illness
- Pertussis (whooping cough)
- Meningitis
- Pneumonia
- Influenza
- Respiratory Synctical Virus
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Best Practices:
As well as routine practices, Droplet Precautions include the following minimum practices:
1. If clinical status allows, assess these patients at the end of the office day
2. When patient arrives, instruct to perform hand hygiene and put on a mask that will be worn at all times while in office
3. Encourage respiratory etiquette
4. Ensure personal protective equipment and alcohol-based hand rub is available at the reception area for staff to access when required
5. Quickly triage patient out of common waiting areas; ensure that the patient is at least 2 metres (6 feet) away from other patients
6. Move patient to examination room
7. For direct patient care
Perform hand hygiene
- Wear a fluid resistant surgical mask
- Wear eye protection
8. At the end of office visit
- Perform hand hygiene
- Wipe all horizontal surfaces (with low level disinfectant) in the examining room that have been in contact with the patient
- Wipe all equipment (with low level disinfectant) used to examine the patient (blood pressure cuff, stethoscope, etc.)
9. Ensure to report all Reportable Diseases to the Leeds, Grenville and Lanark District Health Unit (refer to Section 1 i)
References:
Centers for Disease Control (CDC), (1996), Guideline for isolation precautions in hospitals http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/hip/ISOLAT/Isolat.htm
Health Canada, (1999), Routine practices and additional precautions for preventing the transmission of infection in health care, Vol. 25S4.
College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario (2004) Infection Control in the Physicians Office |
