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Varicella-Zoster Screening and Management Programs in Healthcare Facilities in Canada

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Nathalie Lussier ,
Karl Weiss  and
Michel Laverdière
Nathalie Lussier
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
Karl Weiss*
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
Michel Laverdière
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, Canada
*
Dept Microbiologie-Infectiologie, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, 5415, boul I'Assomption, Montréal, Québec, HIT 2M4, Canada
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Abstract

A 24-question survey on varicella-zoster screening programs and control measures for varicella-zoster infections was sent to 170 Canadian healthcare facilities. The results indicated that 60% of Canadian healthcare facilities have well-established preemployment varicella-zoster screening programs for healthcare workers. Overall, 30% of healthcare facilities impose work restrictions for susceptible healthcare workers, 49% use negative-pressure rooms for varicella-zoster management, and 28% have a policy to discharge susceptible exposed patients. Large variations exist among Canadian healthcare facilities in their varicella-zoster infection control policies.

Type
Concise Communications
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 20 , Issue 8 , August 1999 , pp. 562 - 563
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1999

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