Nursing Care

Step

Action

1

2

3

Contact baby must be isolated from 8 days following initial exposure until 21 days from last exposure. The incubation of chickenpox may be prolonged in babies that have had VZIG from 21 days up to 28 days as an attenuated chickenpox can develop in this period. Therefore single room isolation is necessary for up to 28 days from exposure.

4

If baby’s mother has chicken pox:

1. she must not come into the unit until all the lesions have crusted.
2. if baby well enough to go to the postnatal ward isolate in room with mother.
3. breastfeeding may occur. However if mother has lesions on her breasts they need to be covered with gauze then op-site.  The mother should avoid coughing or sneezing on baby.

If baby in NICU expressed breast milk can be used provided mother has covered the lesions as in (c) before expressing.

5

Staff and visitors that are immune to chickenpox should use contact precautions, gown and gloves when handling baby. Staff and visitors who are non immune should not enter the room. If they have to enter room they must wear mask, gown and gloves (airborne and contact precautions).

6

• Linen to go in white linen bag.
• Rubbish to be disposed of in white bags unless heavily soiled which then goes in yellow bag.