Chickenpox (varicella)
Chickenpox precautions
- How long
- Until all lesions are dry and crusted; duration of illness for varicella pneumonia in immunocompromised patients
- Room
- Airborne infection isolation room (AIIR)
- PPE
- Gown and gloves; respiratory protection per Airborne Precautions
- Staffing
- Susceptible staff should not enter if immune staff are available
- Exposed susceptibles
- Vaccine within 120 hours; VariZIG within 10 days if vaccine is contraindicated
Good to know
- Exposed susceptible patients go on Airborne Precautions, and exposed susceptible staff are excluded, from day 8 after first exposure until day 21 after last exposure — day 28 if they received varicella zoster immune globulin — regardless of post-exposure vaccination.
- CDC makes no recommendation on face protection for immune staff, or on whether susceptible staff should use a surgical mask or a respirator.
What CDC’s table says
Verbatim from CDC’s Appendix A, with bibliography numbers removed.
Varicella Zoster
AirborneContactStandardDurationUntil lesions dry and crusted
Susceptible HCWs should not enter room if immune caregivers are available; no recommendation for face protection of immune HCWs; no recommendation for type of protection (i.e., surgical mask or respirator) for susceptible HCWs. In immunocompromised host with varicella pneumonia, prolong duration of precautions for duration of illness. Varicella Post-exposure Prophylaxis Update [April 2019] Update: Postexposure prophylaxis: provide postexposure vaccine ASAP but within 120 hours; for susceptible exposed persons for whom vaccine is contraindicated (immunocompromised persons, pregnant women, newborns whose mother’s varicella onset is <5 days before delivery or within 48 hours after delivery) provide varicella zoster immune globulin as soon as possible after exposure and within 10 days. Use Airborne for exposed susceptible persons and exclude exposed susceptible healthcare workers beginning 8 days after first exposure until 21 days after last exposure or 28 if received varicella zoster immune globulin, regardless of postexposure vaccination.
Test yourself: a CIC-style question
A patient with chickenpox (varicella) is admitted to the hospital. How long should the patient remain on Airborne and Contact Precautions?
- Until the patient is no longer febrile
- Until all lesions are dry and crusted
- For 24 hours after the first antiviral dose
- For the entire hospitalization
Show answer
B. Until all lesions are dry and crusted
A patient with varicella is infectious until all lesions have dried and crusted, so Airborne + Contact Precautions continue until then.
Questions like this come up in the Preventing and Controlling the Transmission of Infectious Agents domain of the CIC® exam. The 654 questions in the app each come with a written explanation.
FAQ
- What precautions are needed for Chickenpox?
- Airborne + Contact + Standard. Room: Airborne infection isolation room (AIIR). PPE: Gown and gloves; respiratory protection per Airborne Precautions. Staffing: Susceptible staff should not enter if immune staff are available. Exposed susceptibles: Vaccine within 120 hours; VariZIG within 10 days if vaccine is contraindicated.
- How long do Chickenpox precautions last?
- Until all lesions are dry and crusted; duration of illness for varicella pneumonia in immunocompromised patients.
Sources
- CDC. Appendix A: Type and Duration of Precautions Recommended for Selected Infections and Conditions (2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions, updated September 2024)
- CDC. 2007 Guideline for Isolation Precautions: Summary of Recommendations
Checked against CDC on October 21, 2026. For education and CIC® exam preparation only — not a substitute for your facility’s infection prevention policies, your state or local health department, or clinical judgment. CBIC and CDC do not endorse this tool.