Protect yourself and others from contagious infections

Winter contagious disease season has begun, and VUMC is seeing increases in cases of influenza and other respiratory viruses. Cases of norovirus are also increasing. Norovirus is a common cause of viral gastroenteritis (acute nausea, vomiting and diarrhea), and it can be spread by contact or through contaminated food.

To protect yourself and our patients against influenza and norovirus:

• Wash your hands and remind others to do so. For norovirus, soap and water should be used.
• Don’t work when sick. If you have respiratory symptoms (cough, runny nose) and fever, please stay home. If you have respiratory symptoms and NO fever, please wear a surgical mask if working. If you have acute nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea, please stay home.
• Promptly identify patients who may have influenza or norovirus and use the appropriate isolation precautions:

-- Influenza precautions

-- Norovirus precautions

• Place a surgical mask on patients with confirmed or suspected influenza infection.
• Faculty, staff, and employees who have received an exemption from influenza vaccination should now wear a surgical mask until the influenza season has ended.
• If caring for patients with norovirus, ensure that common areas, high touch surfaces (toilets, faucets, handrails, bedrails, telephones, door handles, computer equipment, kitchen prep surfaces), and rooms of suspected and confirmed patients are cleaned with a bleach-containing wipe twice per day.