New rules to protect workers in U.S.  hospitals emphasize keeping patients from influenza away from others and leave protective equipment like masks as a last resort.

The new guidelines given by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention U.S. (CDC, for its acronym in English) call to hospitals to vaccinate as many staff as possible against H1N1, and refuse entry to visitors with flu symptoms .

The best way to protect staff and patients of the virus is to keep the disease out of the facility, the CDC advises.

“Examples include: taking measures to minimize outpatient visits for patients with mild influenza who have no risk factors for complications, visits to postpone elective patients with confirmed influenza symptoms or until no longer contagious, and deny entry to visitors sick, “the CDC said.

Divisions in the waiting room can help reduce transmission, and special equipment to breathe the air of patients with breathing tubes.

They also help administrative controls such as vaccination of personnel required, keeping sick workers home, hand hygiene strategy and establish separate waiting areas for patients with influenza, the CDC said.

The agency added that the personal protective equipment (PPE) was the last in the list of influenza control, in part because they only work when used consistently and properly.

“Careful attention to the elimination of potential exposure, engineering controls and administrative controls will reduce the need to rest at PIR, including respirators,” said CDC.

“This is an especially important consideration during the current year, when the shortage of ventilators has been informed by many health facilities,” he added.

Vaccination for Health Workers:

The N95 respirators are considered the best protection against viruses although rare, should fit properly and are uncomfortable.

The Society for the Care of U.S. Epidemic (SHEA, for its acronym in English) praised the decision.

“I really could put the health workers at higher risk to reduce further an already low supply of an instrument that is necessary for high-risk procedures, such as a bronchoscopy, using it for daily care,” said Dr. Mark Rupp Medical Center, University of Nebraska, president of SHEA.

“The best available science leaves no doubt that the best way to protect people is to get vaccinated,” he said.

The CDC has advised encourage health workers to be vaccinated against H1N1. Generally, only 40 percent of nurses, doctors and technicians are immunized against seasonal influenza.

“To improve participation, vaccination should be offered health personnel free of charge and during working hours. Should be considered vaccination campaigns with incentives such as lotteries with prizes. Health facilities should require staff to reject the complete vaccination a form of decline, “the CDC evaluated.

Liberal policies encourage sick workers to stay home with their germs, and can put up signs to remind workers and visitors how to avoid spreading the infection, he concluded.

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