The influenza virus is spread through secretions and respiratory droplets, so droplet precautions are indicated. Patient should be in their own room if possible and the patient and healthcare worker or visitor should be wearing surgical masks. Universal precautions are simple (i.e. handwashing) but are not an appropriate level of protection for a pathogen spread by respiratory droplets. Airborne precautions are required in certain settings for specific airborne pathogens but is unnecessary to control influenza. Contact precautions are effective against organisms spread by touch such as a staphylococcal wound infection but are not appropriate for protection from pathogens spread by respiratory droplets.