MMWR from Center for Disease Control
TABLE 1: Suggested restrictions for patients infected with or exposed to major infectious diseases in health-care settings, in the absence of state and local regulations.
|
Disease/problem |
Appointment restrictions |
Duration |
|
Conjunctivitis |
Restrict from treatment |
Until discharge ceases |
|
Cytomegalovirus infection |
No restriction |
|
|
Diarrheal disease Acute stage (diarrhea with other symptoms)
Convalescent stage, Salmonella Species |
Restrict from treatment
Restrict from treatment |
Until symptoms resolve
Until symptoms resolve; consult with local and state health authorities regarding need for negative stool cultures |
|
Enteroviral infection |
Restrict from treatment |
Until symptoms resolve |
|
Hepatitis A |
Restrict from treatment |
Until 7 days after onset of jaundice |
|
Hepatitis B Patients with acute or chronic hepatitis B surface |
No restrictions†; refer to state regulations. Standard precautions should always be followed. |
|
|
Hepatitis C |
No restrictions |
|
|
Herpes simplex Genital
Hands (herpetic whitlow)
Orofacial |
No restriction
Restrict from treatment
Evaluate need to restrict |
Until lesions heal |
|
Measles Active
|
Exclude from treatment
|
Until 7 days after the rash appears |
|
Meningococcal infection |
Exclude from treatment |
Until 24 hours after start of effective therapy |
|
Mumps Active |
Exclude from treatment
|
Until 9 days after onset of parotitis |
|
Pediculosis |
Restrict from treatment |
Until treated and observed to be free of adult and immature lice |
|
Pertussis Active
Postexposure (asymptomatic)
Postexposure (symptomatic)
|
Exclude from treatment
No restriction, prophylaxis recommended
Exclude from treatment |
From beginning of catarrhal stage through third week after onset of paroxysms, or until 5 days after start of effective antibiotic therapy
Until 5 days after start of effective antibiotic therapy
|
|
Disease/problem |
Work restriction |
Duration |
|
Rubella Active |
Exclude from treatment |
Until 5 days after rash appears |
|
Staphylococcus aureus infection Active, draining skin lesions
Carrier state |
Restrict from treatment
No restriction unless patient is epidemiologically linked to transmission of the organism
|
Until lesions have resolved |
|
Streptococcal infection, group A |
Restrict from treatment |
Until 24 hours after adequate treatment started |
|
Tuberculosis Active disease
PPD converter |
Exclude from treatment
No treatment until patient has been treated for a minimum of 90 days with prophylactic medication. |
Until proved noninfectious through treatment.
Patient will need to submit documentation of completed treatment. |
|
Varicella (chicken pox) Active |
Exclude from treatment
|
Until all lesions dry and crust
|
|
Zoster (shingles) Localized, in healthy person
Generalized or localized in immunosuppressed person
Viral respiratory infection, acute Febrile |
Restrict from treatment
Restrict from treatment
Consider excluding from treatment at high risk ¶ |
Until all lesions dry and crust
Until all lesions dry and crust
Until acute symptoms resolve |
Source: Adapted from Bolyard EA, Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Guidelines for infection control in health care personnel, 1998. Am J Infect. Control 1998; 26:289-354.
*Modified from recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP.
1Unless epidemiologically linked to transmission of infection.
§Those susceptible to varicella and who are at increased risk of complications of varicella (e.g., neonates and
immunocompromised persons of any age).
¶Patients at high risk as defined by ACIP for complications of influenza.