Shingles (herpes zoster)
Shingles precautions
- How long
- Until lesions are dry and crusted (localized); duration of illness (disseminated)
- Localized, intact immune system, lesions covered
- Standard Precautions until lesions are dry and crusted
- Disseminated, any patient
- Airborne + Contact + Standard for the duration of illness
- Localized, immunocompromised
- Airborne + Contact + Standard until dissemination is ruled out
- Staffing
- Susceptible staff should not care for these patients if immune staff are available
What CDC’s table says
Verbatim from CDC’s Appendix A, with bibliography numbers removed.
Herpes zoster (varicella-zoster) (shingles) — Disseminated disease in any patient — Localized disease in immunocompromised patient until disseminated infection ruled out
AirborneContactStandardDurationDuration of illness
Susceptible HCWs should not enter room if immune caregivers are available; no recommendation for protection of immune HCWs; no recommendation for type of protection (i.e. surgical mask or respirator) for susceptible HCWs.
Herpes zoster (varicella-zoster) (shingles) — Localized in patient with intact immune system with lesions that can be contained/covered
StandardDurationUntil lesions dry and crusted
Susceptible HCWs should not provide direct patient care when other immune caregivers are available.
Test yourself: a CIC-style question
A patient with an intact immune system has localized shingles on the chest that can be fully covered. Which precautions apply?
- Airborne + Contact
- Contact only
- Standard Precautions
- Droplet + Standard
Show answer
C. Standard Precautions
Covered localized zoster in an immunocompetent patient needs Standard Precautions until lesions are dry and crusted. Disseminated zoster, or localized zoster in an immunocompromised patient, needs Airborne + Contact.
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 Shingles?
- Depends on the type — Standard, or Airborne + Contact + Standard. Localized, intact immune system, lesions covered: Standard Precautions until lesions are dry and crusted. Disseminated, any patient: Airborne + Contact + Standard for the duration of illness. Localized, immunocompromised: Airborne + Contact + Standard until dissemination is ruled out. Staffing: Susceptible staff should not care for these patients if immune staff are available.
- How long do Shingles precautions last?
- Until lesions are dry and crusted (localized); duration of illness (disseminated).
Sources
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.