Respiratory, Ventilation and Cough Hygiene

Objective

To raise awareness of the importance of good respiratory hygiene, cough etiquette, and ventilation in preventing the spread of respiratory infections.

Further information: Preventing Infection Workbook - Page 21

Why Respiratory Hygiene and Cough Etiquette Matter

Good respiratory hygiene is essential in reducing the risk of spreading respiratory infections such as:

• Tuberculosis (TB)
• COVID-19
• Influenza (Flu)
• The Common Cold (Rhinovirus)

For vulnerable people, these illnesses can cause serious complications, including pneumonia.

Respiratory infections spread when someone coughs, sneezes, or talks, releasing droplets into the air. These droplets can:

• Travel through the air when someone sneezes, typically contaminating people and surfaces within 1 metre, though droplets can sometimes travel further.
• Enter the body via the eyes, nose, or mouth.
• Land on surfaces, where microorganisms can survive for hours or even days (e.g., influenza for up to 24 hours, COVID-19 for up to 72 hours).

The Role of Ventilation

Ventilation helps reduce the number of microorganisms in the air.

Care home staff should:

• Ensure rooms are well ventilated.
• Open windows regularly when safe to do so:
  • At least 15 minutes three times a day, or
  • 10 minutes every hour.

Preventing the Spread of Viruses and Bacteria

Care home staff should:

• Follow good respiratory hygiene themselves.
• Encourage and assist residents to follow these practices:

1. Use disposable single-use tissues

• Cover the nose and mouth when sneezing, coughing, wiping, or blowing the nose.

2. Dispose of tissues immediately

• Use the nearest foot-operated waste bin.

3. Wash hands after any respiratory activity

• Use soap and water after coughing, sneezing, using tissues, or touching contaminated objects.

4. Avoid touching the face

• Residents should keep hands away from eyes, mouth, and nose until hand hygiene has been performed.

5. Assist those unable to manage secretions

• Provide containers or bags for immediate disposal of used tissues.

6. If no tissue is available

• Cough or sneeze into the crook of the elbow, not into the hands or the air.

Catch It, Bin It, Kill It

• Catch it - Use a tissue to cover coughs and sneezes.
• Bin it - Dispose of tissues straight away.
• Kill it - Wash your hands immediately after.

Resources: 
Catch It, Bin It, Kill It Poster: catch-bin-kill.pdf  
Infection Prevention Control Respiratory and Cough Hygiene: Respiratory-and-cough-hygiene-poster-May-2025.pdf 
Coughs and Sneezes Spread Diseases Poster: Coughs and sneezes spread diseases 
Catch it, Bin it, Kill it, Flu Poster: S36 PRO-2659 PHE Catch It 297x210 UpdatedLogo_P4P.pdf

References and Further Guidance Links: 
Infection Prevention Control Respiratory and Cough Hygiene: Respiratory and cough hygiene  
NIPCM: Chapter 1 Standard Infection Control Precautions (SICPs) - Public Health Wales 
UKHSA IPC Guidance: Infection prevention and control: resource for adult social care - GOV.UK