14 THE ADA PRACTICAL GUIDE TO EFFECTIVE INFECTION CONTROL Masking and Separation of Persons with Respiratory Symptoms During periods of increased respiratory infection activity in the community, such as periods of increased absenteeism in schools and work settings, offer masks to persons who are coughing. Either procedure masks (i.e., with ear loops) or surgical masks (i.e., with ties) may be used to contain respiratory secretions. (Respirators, such as N-95 or above, are not necessary for this purpose.) When space and chair availability permit, encourage coughing persons to sit at least three feet away from others in common waiting areas. Some facilities may find it logistically easier to institute this recommendation year-round. During periods of increased respiratory infection activity in the community, such as periods of increased absenteeism in schools and work settings, offer masks to persons who are coughing. Droplet Precautions Some diseases like the flu can be spread through large-particle respiratory droplet transmission, such as when an infected person coughs or sneezes near another person. So you may wish to advise dental staff to observe droplet precautions in addition to standard precautions when examining a patient with symptoms of a respiratory infection, particularly if fever is present. (Standard precautions will be defined and discussed in greater detail later in this chapter.) An example of a droplet precaution is wearing a surgical or procedure mask for close contact. These precautions should be maintained until it is determined that the cause of symptoms is not an infectious agent that requires droplet precautions. NOTE: These recommendations are based on the Draft Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Preventing Transmission of Infectious Agents in Healthcare Settings. Recommendations of the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC), CDC. Source: http://www.cdc.gov/flu/professionals/ infectioncontrol/resphygiene.htm