Preventing seasonal flu

Trainee : What is the most important step in preventing seasonal flu in old people ?

Nurse : The first protection measure is vaccination.

Trainee : But I heard that vaccines are dangerous.

Nurse : Not at all. Vaccines are made from inactive viruses and can never give flu. The World Health Organization advises annual vaccination for people above the age of 65, especially if they have chronic diseases, and of course healthcare professionals who work with them.

Trainee: I don’t really get it…

Nurse : Each winter, in care facilities, nosocomial flu infections concern both elderly patients, whose defense mechanisms are very weak, and caregivers. This is why everybody should get a flu shot.

Trainee : The vaccine is enough then ?

Nurse : Yes, but standard hygiene measures should also be taken. These should be applied to all, caregivers and patients, in order to avoid the virus ?transmission, which generally manifests by lower respiratory tract infections. On an individual level for the caregivers, for example, it means hand washing, wearing a mask and gloves.

Trainee : Are there any other measures ?

Nurse : Yes. The diagnosis of at least three suspected flu cases not later than 48 hours, or just even a simple suspicion of respiratory infection, should trigger collective measures. For example, keeping the sick in their room especially during meals, giving masks to patients when they leave their room and to caregivers when entering the patients’ rooms, limiting visits and informing visitors, reinforcing hand hygiene for everyone, and suspending group activities for the patients.

Trainee : There’s much to do then !

Nurse : Actually, there are still a couple of things to do. In case of a flu epidemic, the High Council of Public Health recommends daily cleaning of the patients’ rooms, using a detergent and a disinfectant, insisting mainly on door knobs, bed rails, call bells and toilets. You should wash your hands thoroughly before handling meals, and discard the apron that you used to protect your work wear.

Trainee : But then again this is what we do during a flu epidemic I guess. Now is there anything to do beforehand ?

Nurse : According to the High Council of Public Health, in case of suspected respiratory infections, we should proceed to primary prevention in the care homes, that is vaccination of all patients and caregivers, rigorous hand hygiene and permanent surveillance of residents for early identification of suspected flu cases. As a healthcare professional, you should also give information to visitors and patients about general hygiene and protection, report any suspected case immediately, and finally, do further investigation with local and regional healthcare actors to identify causes and adapt and implement control measures.

Trainee : Well, thanks for such detailed information !