Infection Control in Healthcare Personnel

Recommendations

1. For healthcare personnel who have an exposure to diphtheria, regardless of vaccination status:

• Administer postexposure prophylaxis in accordance with CDC recommendations.
• Exclude from work and obtain nasal and pharyngeal swabs for diphtheria culture.
  • If nasal AND pharyngeal cultures are negative for toxin-producing C. diphtheriae, healthcare personnel may return to work while completing postexposure antibiotic therapy.
  • If nasal OR pharyngeal cultures are positive for toxin-producing C. diphtheriae:
    • Complete postexposure antibiotic therapy.
    • Healthcare personnel may return to work when:
      • Postexposure antibiotic therapy is completed AND
      • At least 24 hours after completion of postexposure antibiotic therapy, two consecutive pairs of nasal AND pharyngeal cultures, obtained at least 24 hours apart, are negative for toxin-producing C. diphtheriae.
• Implement daily monitoring for the development of signs and symptoms of diphtheria for 7 days after the last exposure.

2. For healthcare personnel with respiratory diphtheria infection, exclude from work until:

• Antibiotic and antitoxin (if needed) therapy are completed AND
• At least 24 hours after completion of antibiotic therapy, two consecutive pairs of nasal AND pharyngeal cultures, obtained at least 24 hours apart, are negative for toxin-producing C. diphtheriae.

3. For healthcare personnel with cutaneous diphtheria infection or other diphtheria infection manifestations, determine the duration of exclusion from work in consultation with federal, state, and local public health authorities.

Recommendations

1. Postexposure prophylaxis and work restrictions are not necessary for healthcare personnel who have an exposure to group A Streptococcus.

2. For healthcare personnel with known or suspected group A Streptococcus infection, obtain a sample from the infected site, if possible, for group A Streptococcus and exclude from work until group A Streptococcus infection is ruled out, or until 24 hours after the start of effective antimicrobial therapy, provided that any draining skin lesions can be adequately contained and covered.

• For draining skin lesions that cannot be adequately contained or covered (e.g., on the face, neck, hands, wrists), exclude from work until the lesions are no longer draining.

3. Work restrictions are not necessary for healthcare personnel with known or suspected group A Streptococcus colonization, unless they are epidemiologically linked to transmission of the organism in the healthcare setting.

4. For healthcare personnel with group A Streptococcus colonization who are epidemiologically linked to transmission of the organism in the healthcare setting:

• Administer chemoprophylaxis in accordance with CDC recommendations AND
• Exclude from work until 24 hours after the start of effective antimicrobial therapy AND
• Obtain a sample from the affected site for group A Streptococcus testing 7 to 10 days after completion of chemoprophylaxis; if positive, repeat administration of chemoprophylaxis and again exclude from work until 24 hours after the start of effective antimicrobial therapy.

Recommendations

1. Administer antimicrobial prophylaxis to healthcare personnel, regardless of vaccination status, who have an exposure to N. meningitidis.

2. Exclude healthcare personnel with invasive N. meningitidis disease from work until 24 hours after the start of effective antimicrobial therapy.

3. Work restrictions are not necessary for healthcare personnel who only have nasopharyngeal carriage of N. meningitidis.

Recommendations

1. For asymptomatic healthcare personnel, regardless of vaccination status, who have an exposure to pertussis and are likely to interact with persons at increased risk for severe pertussis:

• Administer postexposure prophylaxis.
• If not receiving postexposure prophylaxis, restrict from contact (e.g., furlough, duty restriction, or reassignment) with patients and other persons at increased risk for severe pertussis for 21 days after the last exposure.

2. For asymptomatic healthcare personnel, regardless of vaccination status, who have an exposure to pertussis and are not likely to interact with persons at increased risk for severe pertussis:

• Administer postexposure prophylaxis, OR
• Implement daily monitoring for 21 days after the last exposure for development of signs and symptoms of pertussis.

3. For asymptomatic healthcare personnel, regardless of vaccination status, who have an exposure to pertussis and who have preexisting health conditions that may be exacerbated by a pertussis infection:

• Administer postexposure prophylaxis.

4. Exclude symptomatic healthcare personnel with known or suspected pertussis from work for 21 days from the onset of cough, or until 5 days after the start of effective antimicrobial therapy.

5. Work restrictions are not necessary for asymptomatic healthcare personnel who have an exposure to pertussis and receive postexposure prophylaxis, regardless of their risk for interaction with persons at increased risk for severe pertussis.

Recommendations

1. For healthcare personnel who have an exposure to rabies virus, administer postexposure prophylaxis in accordance with CDC and ACIP recommendations and in consultation with federal, state, and local public health authorities.

2. Work restrictions are not necessary for asymptomatic healthcare personnel who have an exposure to rabies virus.

3. For healthcare personnel who have a suspected or confirmed rabies virus infection, exclude from work in consultation with federal, state, and local public health authorities.