What precautions can be taken to prevent the spread of rhinovirus infection?

Preventing Rhinovirus Transmission: Evidence-Based Precautions

Hand hygiene, respiratory etiquette, and environmental cleaning are the most effective measures for preventing rhinovirus transmission in both community and healthcare settings. 1

Key Prevention Strategies

Hand Hygiene

• Preferred method: Alcohol-based hand rubs when hands are not visibly soiled 1
• Alternative: Hand washing with antimicrobial soap and water for at least 20 seconds 1
• When to perform:
  • After coughing or sneezing
  • After contact with respiratory secretions
  • After touching potentially contaminated surfaces
  • Before touching eyes, nose, or mouth 1, 2

Respiratory Hygiene/Cough Etiquette

• Cover nose/mouth when coughing or sneezing, preferably with elbow rather than hands 1
• Use tissues to contain respiratory secretions and dispose immediately in nearest waste receptacle 1
• Maintain at least 3 feet distance from others when symptomatic 1
• Consider wearing a mask when symptomatic, especially in public settings 1

Environmental Measures

• Regularly clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces 3
• Use appropriate disinfectants (phenol/alcohol-based products have been shown to reduce rhinovirus recovery from surfaces by 92%) 3
• Avoid sharing personal items that may be contaminated with respiratory secretions 1

Special Considerations for Healthcare Settings

Patient Management

• Implement visual alerts at facility entrances instructing patients with respiratory symptoms to practice respiratory hygiene 1
• When possible, separate symptomatic patients from others by at least 3 feet in waiting areas 1
• Consider providing masks to symptomatic patients 1

Healthcare Worker Precautions

• Use appropriate PPE when caring for patients with respiratory symptoms:
  • Gloves when handling respiratory secretions or contaminated items 1
  • Gowns if clothing could become soiled 1
  • Consider masks when in close contact with symptomatic patients 1
• Restrict healthcare workers with respiratory symptoms from caring for high-risk patients 1

Additional Preventive Measures

For High-Risk Settings

• Limit visitors, especially young children, during periods of increased respiratory virus activity 1
• Consider cohorting symptomatic patients and dedicated staff during outbreaks 1
• Educate staff, patients, and visitors about respiratory virus transmission and prevention 1

Personal Measures

• Avoid touching eyes, nose, and mouth with unwashed hands 2, 4
• Avoid exposure to tobacco smoke, which increases risk of respiratory infections 1
• Consider nasal saline washing as a supplementary measure in selected populations 1

Transmission Insights

Research has demonstrated that rhinoviruses can spread through multiple routes:

• Hand-to-hand contact followed by self-inoculation (touching contaminated hands to eyes or nose) is highly efficient (73% transmission rate) 4
• Contaminated surfaces can serve as intermediaries for transmission (50-56% infection rate) 3
• Aerosol transmission is possible but appears less efficient than contact routes 2, 4

Understanding these transmission dynamics emphasizes why hand hygiene and avoiding face-touching are particularly important preventive measures for rhinovirus infections.