Thank you, all, for your input.

 

Just to be clear, you are using “dry and crusted” for both herpes simplex virus and shingles, correct?

 

 

 

Dried and crusted is what we and CDC use.  See #1: http://www.cdc.gov/shingles/hcp/HC-settings.html#healthcare-personnel

 

 

 

 

I am revising our policy regarding employees with or exposed to communicable disesase and a question has come up regarding work exclusion for orofacial herpes lesions. Currently, our exclusions are written as such:

1)      Herpes: Restrict from care of high risk patients until lesions heal

2)      Varicella: Restrict from care of high risk patients until all lesions dry and crust

 

To me, heal does not equal dry and crust. The medical director of infection control says they are the same; the medical director of employee health says they are different. And I am stuck in the middle trying to manage a policy that creates controversy and no one agrees on.

 

How are others managing these definitions?

 

I appreciate your help.

 

Be well,

Angeli

 

Angeli Mancuso, RN, COHN-S/CM

Employee Health & Safety Manager

Ph: 805.569.7866/Internal Ext. 57866

Fax: 805.569.8271

a1mancus@sbch.org

www.cottagehealthsystem.org

 

 

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