What is it?

Airborne transmission may occur via particles containing infectious agents that remain infectious over time and distance. Small-particle aerosols are created during breathing, talking, coughing, sneezing, and secondarily by evaporating larger droplets in low humidity conditions. Specific procedures such as airway suctioning and those that induce coughing can promote airborne transmission. Aerosols containing infectious agents can be dispersed over long distances by air currents (e.g., ventilation or air conditioning systems) and inhaled by susceptible individuals without contact with the infectious person. These tiny particles can transmit infection into the small airways of the respiratory tract.

Examples of infections that can be transmitted through airborne particles are

Covid-19

Measles (rubeola) virus

Chickenpox (varicella) virus

Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Airborne Precautions

Airborne precautions must be used where there is a risk of transmitting microorganisms via coughing, sneezing, talking, shouting, vomiting, and even breathing, as they can remain infectious over time and distance when suspended in air (e.g., the transmission of measles, varicella, tuberculosis, influenza or COVID-19).

In addition to standard precautions, including hand hygiene, airborne precautions include

Appropriate immunisation of employees

Use of appropriate personal protective equipment, including

Filtering respirators as appropriate or as directed by health departments during outbreaks; standard surgical masks are less effective in protecting against smaller particles

Eye protection (including face shield) where splash risk is likely

Implementation of processes to minimise exposure to other residents

Ensuring that all reusable equipment is cleaned or reprocessed before use on the next resident

Communicating the resident's infectious status to other employees enables appropriate transmission-based precautions to be maintained