CDC Issues Guidance for Testing and Management of Nursing Home Residents with Respiratory Symptoms

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has issued guidance on testing and management considerations for nursing home residents with respiratory illness when COVID and influenza viruses are circulating. The CDC notes that the signs and symptoms of flu and COVID are similar and it may be difficult for providers to distinguish between the two. While the guidance was developed for nursing homes, it indicates that some practices could be adapted for use in other long term care settings, such as assisted living communities.

The guidance includes recommendations related to:

• placement and transmission-based precautions for residents with symptoms of acute illness, including those with atypical symptoms;
• testing for both viruses and co-occurrence of the viruses, the respiratory specimens needed for diagnostic assays for each virus, and the testing protocols with different assays;
• placement decisions for those with confirmed COVID and/or flu;
• clinical management of flu, COVID, and pneumonia; and
• vaccination.

The guidance also includes links to various resources that inform the guidance.

Contact: Karen Lipson, klipson@leadingageny.org