Recommendations for Visitor Restrictions to Acute Care Facilities During 2009-2010 Influenza Season

October 9, 2009

• Limit the number of visitors per patient to no more than 4 visitors at a time, although a facility might determine that a lower number might be more appropriate for their setting. 
• Excluding visitors who are <12 years of age. However, a facility might determine that restricting visitors <18 years of age might be more appropriate for their setting.
• Persons who are ill should not be allowed to visit patients, and should be encouraged to leave the facility. Consideration should be given to screening all visitors for illness or influenza symptoms prior to allowing them to visit a patient.
• Visitors should be educated in proper hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene. Visitors should wash hands or use alcohol-based hand sanitizer upon entering and leaving a patient’s room. Posted signs on hand hygiene and respiratory hygiene can be helpful.
• Visitors should follow isolation precautions as directed by the facility.
• Consider making exceptions to visitor restriction in extenuating circumstances (such as end of life care). Consider designating a person on each floor, wing, or unit (such as a charge nurse) who can make these exceptions.
• Posted signs informing visitors of facility policy regarding visitor restrictions can be helpful in preparing visitors for these restrictions.
• CDPHE will inform healthcare facilities when influenza surveillance data indicate that it is reasonable to discontinue these restrictions.