Infection prevention and control of epidemic- and pandemic-prone acute respiratory diseases in health care

WHO/CDS/EPR/2007.6

WHO Interim Guidelines

June 2007

Guidance updates

• The present guidelines supersede the document "Hospital Infection Control Guidance for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS)", revised 24 April 2003.
• These guidelines relate to, and can be used in conjunction with, the document "Avian Influenza, Including Influenza A (H5N1): WHO Interim Infection Control Guidelines for Health-care Facilities" published by the WHO Regional Office for the Western Pacific on 10 March 2004, and updated in May 2007.
• After the conclusion of the pilot tests, to be conducted in 2007/2008, a revised version of these guidelines will be published.
• In the event of new epidemics or pandemics, additional recommendations will be forthcoming.

Contents

Foreword
Ackowledgements
I. List of acronyms and definition of terms used in the document
II. Executive summary
III. Introduction and scope of the guidelines
IV. Infection prevention and control recommendations
V. Environmental ventilation for respiratory infections
VI. HCF preparedness planning for ARD epidemics
References
Annexes
A. Respiratory protection
B. Principles and design of natural ventilation
C. Routine and specific infection control precautions
D. Sample checklist assessment of environmental conditions for home care of patients with ARDs of potential concern
E. Sample HCW influenza-like illness monitoring form for HCW exposed to patients with ARDs of potential concern
F. Isolation rooms/areas
G. Mortuary care and postmortem examination
H. Use of disinfectants: alcohol and bleach
I. Surge capacity: HCF PPE needs during epidemics/pandemics
J. Cleaning and disinfection of respiratory equipment
K. Infection control across the continuum of health care