Staff disease surveillance

Conjunctivitis

Must not provide patient care while eye discharge present.

Gastroenteritis – norovirus infection suspected

Must not come to work for at least 48 hours after resolution of symptoms (eg diarrhoea and/or vomiting).

Gastroenteritis – infection with other pathogen suspected

(eg giardiasis, Shigella infections, Salmonella infections, Campylobacter infections)

Must not come to work while symptomatic (eg diarrhoea and/or vomiting) and until 24 hours after symptoms have resolved.

Glandular fever

Not required (even for those with direct patient contact) if well enough to return to work and follow standard precautions.

Hand, foot and mouth disease

Must not come to work until all blisters have dried.

Exclusion not necessary for contacts of someone who has hand, foot and mouth disease.

Herpes Simplex infections (cold sores)

If exposed herpetic lesion, must not provide direct care to neonates, newborns, patients with severe immunocompromise, patients with burns or extensive eczema, or patients undergoing minor surgical procedures.

May provide direct patient care to other patients. Mask is unnecessary, but lesions should be covered with a dressing, if possible. Hand hygiene practices to minimise the risk of transmission need to be maintained.

Herpes Zoster infections (Shingles)

Must remain at home while unwell. Must not provide ANY direct patient care if lesions cannot be covered (eg ophthalmic zoster).

If active lesions can be covered, can provide care to all patients except for pregnant women, neonates, severely immunocompromised patients, burns patients and patients with extensive eczema.

Influenza

Must remain off work until at least one of the following applies:

• The person is asymptomatic
• The person has received 72 hours of influenza antiviral medication.
• It is 5 days or more since onset of respiratory symptoms.

Pertussis infections (Whooping cough)

Staff should remain away from work for whichever specified period applies:

Viral respiratory tract infections: COVID-19 [SARS-COV-2], SARS-COV-1, MERS [MERS-CoV]), RSV, hMPV, common cold

Follow directives by jurisdiction health authorities.

Note: restrictions based on vaccination status may apply.

Scabies or lice infestations

Staff member should remain off work until 24 hours after first treatment started.

Staphylococcal infection (eg boils, wound infections)

Swab for culture and sensitivity. If multi-resistant organism or highly pathogenic strain identified, follow directives by jurisdiction health authorities.

Lesions must be covered with an occlusive dressing while at work.

If lesions cannot be covered, staff must not perform patient care or handle food for others until they have received appropriate antibiotic therapy and the infection has resolved.

Streptococcal infection (eg impetigo, tonsillitis)

Lesions on skin (eg impetigo) must be covered with an occlusive dressing while at work. If lesions cannot be covered, staff do not attend work until 24 hours after commencement of appropriate antibiotic therapy.

Staff with pharyngitis/tonsillitis should avoid patient contact for at least 24 hours after starting appropriate antibiotic therapy.

Tuberculosis (TB)

Exclusion until cleared – follow jurisdictional policy and TB service advice.

Viral rashes

Remain off work for specified exclusion period according to virus:

Note: Staff should be screened for measles, mumps, rubella and Varicella infection before starting employment. If not immune, they should be offered vaccination unless contraindicated.