Pathogens spread rapidly in close quarters through respiratory droplets, airborne aerosols, or contaminated surfaces. Successfully containing a virus or bacteria requires a proactive and consistent strategy that addresses physical separation, personal actions, and environmental control. This comprehensive containment plan focuses on creating barriers and removing contaminants to protect the health of everyone under the same roof.
Establishing Physical Isolation Protocols
The immediate and most effective defense against household transmission is creating a dedicated isolation space for the sick individual. This space should ideally be a single bedroom separate from the rest of the living area. If possible, a separate bathroom should also be designated for their use to prevent contamination of a highly-trafficked shared space.
Physical distance remains a primary measure for well individuals who must interact with the patient. Maintaining a distance of at least six feet significantly reduces the risk of direct exposure to respiratory droplets expelled through talking, coughing, or sneezing. If a caregiver must enter the room, interactions should be kept brief and distance should be maximized whenever possible.
Cross-contamination through shared objects must be eliminated. The sick person should be provided with their own set of non-shared items, including dishes, silverware, towels, bedding, and electronics. When delivering meals or necessities, the caregiver should leave them just inside the door to avoid close contact. Only the designated caregiver should interact with the sick individual to limit the number of household members exposed.
Controlling Contaminant Transfer Through Personal Hygiene
Meticulous hand hygiene is essential for both the sick person and the caregiver to interrupt the chain of infection. Hands should be washed thoroughly with soap and water for a minimum of 20 seconds, especially after contact with the sick person or before preparing food. If soap and water are not readily available, an alcohol-based hand rub containing at least 60% alcohol can be used as an alternative.
Proper respiratory etiquette contains infectious droplets at their source. The ill person should consistently cover their mouth and nose with a tissue when they cough or sneeze, immediately disposing of the used tissue in a lined trash can. If a tissue is unavailable, they should cough into their elbow rather than their hands to prevent surface contamination.
Appropriate use of face masks protects against the spread of airborne particles. The sick individual should wear a well-fitted mask whenever they leave their isolation room. The caregiver should also wear a mask when they are within close proximity to the patient, particularly during necessary caregiving tasks. Masks should be handled by the ear loops, discarded safely after use, and followed immediately by hand hygiene.
Sanitizing Shared Surfaces and Improving Air Quality
Cleaning and disinfecting high-touch surfaces in shared household areas must be done frequently. Focus on items like doorknobs, light switches, remote controls, kitchen counters, and faucet handles. Use a disinfectant solution, such as a diluted bleach mixture or an alcohol solution containing at least 70% alcohol, after initial cleaning.
Handling the sick person’s laundry and dishes requires specific precautions. Laundry should be handled with gloves and avoided from shaking to prevent aerosolizing. Wash laundry using the warmest appropriate water setting. Dishes should be washed thoroughly, separate from other household items, either in a dishwasher or with hot water and soap.
Improving indoor air quality manages airborne viral load. Increase ventilation by opening windows periodically to introduce fresh outdoor air. Using a portable air purifier equipped with a High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter can further reduce airborne contaminants. HEPA filters are capable of trapping at least 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns in size and are also effective at capturing smaller virus-carrying particles.