Page updated 30 April 2007
Management of Contacts Exposed to Chickenpox & Shingles
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Staff Members Exposed to Chickenpox & Shingles
In an outbreak, serological testing for staff who are uncertain of their immune status can be arranged through Occupational Health. About two thirds of those who give no history of having had chickenpox will have serological evidence of past exposure.
Occupational Health will inform individual susceptible staff of the need to either:
a) re-deploy them between days 8 and 21 after exposure
OR
b) administer immune globulin (VZIG)
If a contact becomes ill within the incubation period of the disease (e.g. up to 21 days after the last exposure) with even a trivial cold or fever, then they should not work but report to Occupational Health. Non-immune staff in contact with these diseases must not transfer to other wards or nurse immunosuppressed patients during the incubation period.
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Management of Susceptible Contacts
Varicella-zoster Immune Globulin (VZIG) is available for high risk patients who have been exposed to chickenpox or shingles. It will attenuate, not prevent, infection. It is only effective when given soon after exposure and is usually reserved for those not immune to varicella-zoster in whom the disease may be life threatening. Decisions as to whether to administer VZIG is the responsibility of a Virology / Microbiology Consultant.
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