Acute respiratory infections in residential care facilities
Respiratory viruses such as COVID-19, influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), circulate in the community throughout the year, with influenza and RSV being more common in winter, and COVID-19 also having peaks outside of winter. While most people with these infections experience mild symptoms, they can lead to severe illness, hospitalisation or death, particularly in higher risk populations.
Respiratory viruses may be brought into residential care facilities by unwell visitors or staff. It is important that people stay away from the facility if they are unwell or have tested positive for a respiratory virus.
Due to the nature of shared accommodation facilities where people live in close proximity to others, there is an increased risk of the spread of infectious diseases, and outbreaks can occur. Residential care facilities take steps to manage this risk and to ensure that measures are in place to protect residents and staff.
Respiratory viruses can spread through the air or through contact with contaminated objects and surfaces. It is important that people frequently wash their hands or use an alcohol-based hand sanitiser, and cover coughs and sneezes, to reduce the spread of respiratory infections.
See the National Outbreak Management Guideline for Acute Respiratory Infection (including COVID-19, influenza and RSV) in Residential Aged Care Homes
The Respiratory viruses and residential aged care: what residents need to know factsheet explains some of the measures to help keep residents safe in residential aged care.
Acute respiratory infection (ARI) is defined as recent onset of new or worsening acute respiratory symptoms: cough, breathing difficulty, sore throat, or runny nose/nasal congestion, with or without other symptoms.
Other symptoms may include:
- headache, muscle aches (myalgia), fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea or vomiting and diarrhoea; loss of smell and taste can also occur with COVID-19
- fever (≥37.5°C) can occur, however is less common in elderly individuals
- in the elderly, other symptoms to consider are new onset or increase in confusion, change in baseline behaviour, falling, or exacerbation of underlying chronic illness (e.g. increasing shortness of breath in someone with congestive heart failure).
An outbreak should be declared if two or more residents test positive within a 72-hour period for:
- COVID-19 or
- influenza or
- RSV.
Report acute respiratory infection outbreaks to your local public health unit.
Immunisation
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Residential care facilities should monitor and record COVID-19 and influenza vaccination status (including date of vaccinations) for all staff and residents to enable a rapid risk assessment should an outbreak occur.
- COVID-19 vaccination remains the most effective protection against severe illness, hospitalisation and death from COVID-19 (see COVID-19 vaccine information).
- All staff and residents should be vaccinated with the influenza vaccine each year to protect against the circulating seasonal strains of influenza (see influenza vaccine information).
- A RSV vaccine is also available to adults 60 years or older via private purchase.
- The Australian Immunisation Handbook (external link) provides information and recommendations on COVID-19, influenza and RSV vaccination
Additional resources
Last reviewed: 28-06-2024
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Public Health