Respiratory season is still in full swing, with rising cases of seasonal influenza locally and H5 bird flu infections and human metapneumovirus globally. It’s the perfect time to revisit the basics of cough etiquette, a critical component of Standard Precautions to reduce the spread of infections. This month, we’re featuring the Pause for Prevention: Cough Etiquette resource developed by Health Quality Innovation Network, a VIPTA partner, to enhance infection prevention and control (IPC) practices across healthcare settings.

What to Expect 

• A three-page education package with an educational flyer and a facilitator guide designed to train on cough etiquette using workplace learning principles.
• You can use everyday items like a spray bottle and personal protective equipment to create quick, interactive demonstrations that leave a lasting impression on participants.

Ways to Share this Resource 

• Use in team huddles, small group orientation, or one-on-one training sessions.
• Adapt the scenarios to role-play situations involving your healthcare roles and facility.

Target Audience: Essential IPC Education Level 

✅Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)

• Health Advisory: Accelerated Subtyping of Influenza A in Hospitalized Patients (1/16/25)
  • To prevent delays in identifying human infections with avian influenza A (H5N1) viruses, especially during periods of high seasonal influenza activity, the CDC recommends a shortened timeline for subtyping all influenza A specimens from hospitalized patients. This measure will support optimal patient care, infection control, and case investigation. Clinicians and laboratory staff are urged to test for influenza in patients with suspected influenza and to prioritize the rapid subtyping of influenza A-positive specimens, particularly those from patients in intensive care units. Additionally, clinical laboratories should increase efforts to identify non-seasonal influenza strains.

✅Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)

• Updated Part 1904 Recordkeeping Policies and Procedures Directive (1/10/25)
  • This instruction includes a summary of requirements, inspection procedures and citation policy on OSHA’s recordkeeping regulation, 29 CFR 1904 Occupational Injury and Illness Recording and Reporting Requirements Part 1904, effective January 13, 2025. Find more information on how to meet these requirements on the Injury and Illness Recordkeeping and Reporting Requirements webpage.

• Termination of Rulemaking: Occupational Exposure to COVID-19 in Healthcare Settings (1/15/25)
  • The COVID-19 Healthcare rulemaking, which was first published as an Emergency Temporary Standard on June 21, 2021, has been terminated. The agency will continue to focus efforts to protect healthcare workers through work on a broader Infectious Diseases standard.