A home toolkit for primary prevention of influenza by individuals and families

Abstract

An influenza pandemic can overwhelm the capacities of hospitals, clinics, nursingfacilities, and emergencyservices. The likelihood is that most of the individuals who are stricken will be cared for at home, and there is strong evidence that in-home caregivers bear a disproportionate risk of becoming infected. We reviewed the scientific literature after 2000 to identify steps thatin-home caregivers can take to reduce the chances thatthey and other household members will become infected inthe home. Personal hygiene, common masks, and technologies including airfiltersand UVlight each offer incremental benefits, and in combination are expected to reduce a portion of the risk that household mem-bersface when caringfora memberwho has become infected. In pandemics and even seasonal epidemics, seemingly small steps can literally mean the difference between life and death, especially for in-home caregivers. © 2011 American Medical Association.