The CDC updated its Viral Respiratory Infections guidance Sept. 11 and changed recommendations for managing healthcare personnel who are exposed to or infected with common respiratory viruses.
The recommendations apply to respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, influenza, RSV, parainfluenza, rhinovirus, human metapneumovirus and additional adenoviruses. It is not intended to apply to other infections such as measles, mumps, rubella or viral conjunctivitis.
Here are the most notable changes.
1. Personnel with a suspected or confirmed viral respiratory infection should remain out of work for at least three days after when symptoms onset, be fever-free for at least 24 hours without fever-reducing medication, have improving symptoms and feel well enough to return to work. Previously, the CDC required personnel with COVID-19 to remain out of work for at least seven days with a negative test or 10 days without testing.
2. The day symptoms begin, or a positive test is received for asymptomatic personnel, is day zero, making day four the earliest return day. However, the day-four return should not be applied to personnel who are severely or critically ill, or who are moderately to severely immunocompromised.
3. Staff returning to work should wear source control consistently around residents, coworkers and visitors until the end of day seven.
4. Staff with known or suspected exposure who are asymptomatic do not need to be excluded from work. However, they should wear source control through at least the fifth day after their last exposure, monitor for symptoms for at least five days after their last exposure and stop working and follow work-restriction criteria if signs of symptoms develop.
5. The updated guidance does not include routine serial testing on days one, three and five after exposure.
