In most cases when there is an airborne pathogen outbreak in a hospital, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration recommend patients be placed in a room with isolated HVAC systems and exhausts. Although most of us can't have an isolated system in our home, we can help prevent the spread of airborne pathogens- by having our air ducts and air handling units cleaned. When a person is sick with the flu, they may cough or breathe infection into the air. The air passes thr