On November 14, 2023, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) updated its guidance for testing and managing nursing home residents who exhibit symptoms of acute respiratory illness when both SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses are co-circulating. The CDC recommends that the following practices be considered when both viruses are found to be co-circulating based on local public health surveillance data and testing at local healthcare facilities:
- Place symptomatic residents in Transmission-Based Precautions using all recommended personal protective equipment (PPE) for care of a resident with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Test any resident with symptoms of COVID-19 or influenza for both viruses.
- Obtain respiratory specimens for influenza and SARS-CoV-2 testing.
- Stay connected with the healthcare-associated infection program in your state health department, as well as your local health department, and their notification requirements.
- Notify the local public health and state health departments of every suspected or confirmed influenza or SARS-CoV-2 outbreak in a long-term care facility, especially if a resident develops influenza while on or after receiving antiviral chemoprophylaxis.
The CDC guidance outlines placement decisions for residents who have been confirmed to have SARS-CoV-2 and influenza virus co-infection, influenza virus infection only, or who have neither but are experiencing symptoms of acute respiratory illness. The CDC also recommends that residents and healthcare professionals remain up to date with recommended COVID-19 and influenza vaccines.
You can access the guidance here.
Compliance Perspective
Issue
Healthcare facilities must remain vigilant against the spread of COVID-19, influenza, and other infections. Nursing homes often serve residents at great risk of severe illness and death from COVID-19 and influenza, and congregate care settings have an increased risk of spread of respiratory infections. A critical strategy that can be taken to help decrease the spread of COVID-19 is the COVID-19 and influenza vaccination, along with other CDC recommendations to help reduce the transmission of the viruses. Because some of the signs and symptoms of COVID-19 and influenza are similar, it may be difficult to tell the difference between these two respiratory diseases based on symptoms alone. The two viruses are also not mutually exclusive. Co-infection can occur, so nursing home residents with symptoms of COVID-19 or influenza should be tested for both.
Discussion Points
- Review your policies and procedures on infection control, residents with respiratory illness symptoms, and COVID-19 and influenza vaccination. Ensure that they are updated with the latest CDC guidance.
- Train staff on your infection control plan and your vaccination policies. Place training documentation in each employee’s education file.
- Audit to ensure that staff are following the CDC guidance for testing and managing residents with acute respiratory illness symptoms. Also audit vaccine consent and administration rates.
*This news alert has been prepared by Med-Net Concepts, LLC for informational purposes only and is not intended to provide legal advice.*
