Mumps is a contagious viral illness characterized by the swelling of the salivary glands. The mumps virus is transmitted from person to person through close contact with respiratory secretions and saliva. Because the virus is expelled in relatively large, heavy moisture particles that do not remain suspended in the air for long periods, the established infection control standard for this illness is Droplet Precautions.
Understanding Mumps Transmission
The mumps virus is found in high concentration within the respiratory secretions, such as saliva and mucus, of an infected person. Transmission occurs when an infected individual expels these secretions into the air by coughing, sneezing, or talking, generating respiratory droplets.
These virus-laden particles are relatively large and heavy, causing them to fall quickly out of the air due to gravity. Their travel distance is short, usually less than two meters from the source. Because the particles settle rapidly onto surfaces or land directly on the eyes, nose, or mouth of a nearby person, mumps is classified as a droplet-spread disease. The virus can also spread through direct contact with infected saliva, such as by sharing cups or utensils, or by touching contaminated surfaces.
Defining Droplet Precautions
Droplet precautions prevent the transmission of pathogens that spread via large respiratory droplets. This protocol is implemented for patients known or suspected to have mumps. The primary action required is placing the infected individual in a private room; a specialized negative-pressure isolation room is not necessary.
Healthcare personnel and caregivers entering the patient’s space must wear a surgical face mask to protect their mucous membranes from direct droplet exposure. The patient should also wear a medical mask whenever they must leave their isolation room. Precautions are maintained for five days after the onset of salivary gland swelling, as the risk of transmission significantly decreases after this period. Maintaining a physical separation of at least three to six feet from the infected person is also required.
The Difference Between Droplet and Airborne Spread
The distinction between droplet and airborne transmission is based on the size of the respiratory particles that carry the infectious agent. Droplets are defined as larger particles, greater than 5 to 10 micrometers in diameter, which limits their suspension time and travel distance. Because of their mass, these particles quickly drop to the ground, requiring close proximity for infection to occur.
In contrast, airborne spread involves much smaller particles, often called aerosols or droplet nuclei, typically 5 micrometers or less in diameter. These tiny particles are light enough to remain suspended in the air for extended periods and can travel long distances on air currents. Diseases that are truly airborne, such as measles or tuberculosis, necessitate more stringent protective measures, including specialized N95 respirators and negative-pressure isolation rooms.