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Review
. 2018;10(2):182-196.
doi: 10.1007/s40506-018-0163-y. Epub 2018 Apr 30.

Transmission and Control of Respiratory Viral Infections in the Healthcare Setting

Pablo E Bonvehí  1 , Elena R Temporiti  1
Affiliations
Review

Transmission and Control of Respiratory Viral Infections in the Healthcare Setting

Pablo E Bonvehí et al. Curr Treat Options Infect Dis. 2018.

Abstract

Purpose of the review: Viral respiratory infections have been recognized as a cause of severe illness in immunocompromised and non-immunocompromised hosts. This acknowledgement is a consequence of improvement in diagnosis and better understanding of transmission. Available vaccines and antiviral drugs for prophylaxis and treatment have been developed accordingly. Viral respiratory pathogens are increasingly recognized as nosocomial pathogens as well. The purpose of this review is to describe the most frequent and relevant nosocomial viral respiratory infections, their mechanisms of transmission and the infection control measures to prevent their spread in the healthcare setting.

Recent findings: Although most mechanisms of transmission and control measures of nosocomial viral infections are already known, improved diagnostic tools allow better characterization of these infections and also lead to the discovery of new viruses such as the coronavirus, which is the cause of the Middle East Respiratory Syndrome, or the human bocavirus. Also, the ability to understand better the impact, dissemination and prevention of these viruses, allows us to improve the measures to prevent these infections.

Summary: Healthcare viral respiratory infections increase patient morbidity. Each virus has a different mechanism of transmission; therefore, early detection and prompt implementation of infection control measures are very important in order to avoid their transmission in the hospital setting.

Keywords: Healthcare acquired infections; Healthcare transmission; Infection control measures; Nosocomial viral infections; Viral Respiratory Infections; Viral respiratory infections prevention.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflict of InterestThe authors declare that they have no competing interests.

References

References and Recommended Reading

Papers of particular interest, published recently, have been highlighted as: • Of importance •• Of major importance
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