The necessary precautions for varicella (chickenpox) involve a combination of standard, airborne, and contact precautions to prevent its spread.
To effectively manage and prevent the transmission of varicella, the following measures must be implemented, as outlined by the provided reference:
- Standard Precautions: Basic hygiene practices that apply to all patients, regardless of suspected or confirmed infection status.
- Airborne Precautions:
- Patients suspected of having varicella should be immediately removed from waiting rooms or public areas.
- Placement in a negative airflow room is crucial as soon as varicella is suspected.
- Contact Precautions: These measures are essential because varicella can spread through direct contact with lesions or contaminated surfaces.
These precautions should be maintained until all varicella lesions have crusted over.
In summary, implementing standard precautions, airborne precautions (including placement in a negative airflow room), and contact precautions until all lesions are crusted over are the essential measures to control the spread of varicella.
