Monkeypox infection prevention

What is monkeypox?

Monkeypox is a rare disease caused by infection with the monkeypox virus. As part of the same family of viruses as smallpox, monkeypox symptoms are similar to smallpox symptoms, but milder; monkeypox is rarely fatal. Monkeypox is not related to chickenpox.

Symptoms of monkeypox can include:

• Fever
• Headache
• Muscle aches and backache
• Swollen lymph nodes
• Chills
• Exhaustion
• A rash that can look like pimples or blisters that appears on the face, inside the mouth and on other parts of the body, such as the hands, feet, chest, genitals or anus
• The rash goes through different stages before healing completely. The illness typically lasts 2-4 weeks. Sometimes, people get a rash first, followed by other symptoms. Others experience a rash

Check out GOJO’s blog, “What is monkeypox? And should I be concerned?“, for more info.

Steps to help prevent getting monkeypox

Take the following steps to prevent getting monkeypox:

• Avoid close, skin-to-skin contact with people who have a rash that looks like monkeypox
  • Do not touch the rash or scabs of a person with monkeypox
  • Do not kiss, hug, cuddle or have sex with someone with monkeypox
  • Do not share eating utensils or cups with a person with monkeypox
• Do not handle or touch the bedding, towels, or clothing of a person with monkeypox
• Wash your hands often with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

If you’re sick with monkeypox:

• Isolate at home
• If you have an active rash or other symptoms, stay in a separate room or area away from people or pets you live with, when possible

Precautions for preventing monkeypox transmission

Standard precautionsshould be applied for patient care, including for patients with suspected monkeypox. If a patient seeking care is suspected to have monkeypox, infection prevention and control personnel should be notified immediately.

Activities that could resuspend dried material from lesions, e.g., use of portable fans, dry dusting, sweeping, or vacuuming should be avoided.

Patient placement

• A patient with suspected or confirmed monkeypox infection should be placed in a single-person room; special air handling is not required
• The door should be kept closed (if safe to do so)
• The patient should have a dedicated bathroom. Transport and movement of the patient outside of the room should be limited to medically essential purposes
• If the patient is transported outside of their room, they should use well-fitting source control (e.g., medical mask) and have any exposed skin lesions covered with a sheet or gown
• Intubation and extubation, and any procedures likely to spread oral secretions should be performed in an airborne infection isolation room

Preparation and collection of specimens

• The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is managing the release of FDA-approved PCR test kits
  • Information for laboratory personnel
  • A PCR procedure is listed, but not a commercial source of the PCR reagents
• What healthcare professionals should know
• Laboratory procedures and biosafety guidelines
• Preparation and collection of specimens
  • Specimens should be collected in the manner outlined from the CDC

Treatment

There are no treatments specifically for monkeypox virus infections. Antiviral drugs and vaccines developed to protect against smallpox may be used to prevent and treat monkeypox virus infections.

If the patient hassymptomsor suspect they have been exposed to monkeypox, a healthcare provider should be contacted.

Personal protective equipment (PPE)

PPE used by healthcare personnel who enter the patient’s room should include:

• Gown
• Gloves
• Eye protection (i.e., goggles or a face shield that covers the front and sides of the face)
• NIOSH-approved particulate respirator equipped with N95 filters or higher
• Hand hygiene with soap and water or use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer

Duration of isolation procedures

• Patients with confirmed or suspected monkeypox infection should be isolated. Patients who do not require hospitalization, but remain potentially infectious to others, should beisolated at home
• Decisions regarding discontinuation ofisolation precautions at a healthcare facilityand at home should be made in consultation with the local or state health department
• For individuals with monkeypox, isolation precautions should be continued until lesions have resolved, the scabs have fallen off and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed

Environmental infection control

• 标准的清洁和消毒程序should be performed using an EPA-registered hospital-grade disinfectant with an emerging viral pathogen claim
• Products withemerging viral pathogens claimsmay be found on theEPA’s List Q．按照制造商的说明和谐ration, contact time and care and handling
• Soiled laundry should be handled in accordance with standard practices, avoiding contact with lesion material that may be present on the laundry and contained
• Activities such as dry dusting, sweeping or vacuuming should be avoided. Wet cleaning methods are preferred
• Management of food service items should also be performed in accordance with routine procedures

Management of healthcare personnel and patients with a monkeypox exposure

• Exposed healthcare personnel and patients in healthcare facilities should be monitored and receive post-exposure management according to current recommendations
• If in-patient is unable to communicate symptoms they should be isolated for 21 days after last exposure and monitored for the remaining duration of their incubation period

Products for infection control and prevention of monkeypox

• Disinfectants for emerging viral pathogens (EVPs): List Q
• UPrevent recommended products for cleaning and disinfection of the environment
• UPrevent recommended PPE products for healthcare providers of individuals
• Letter from PDI reviewing their surface disinfectant products & emerging viral pathogen claims

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Unless otherwise noted, the recommendations in this document were obtained from: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Be advised that information contained herein is intended to serve as a useful reference for informational purposes only and is not complete clinical information. This information is intended for use only by competent healthcare professionals exercising judgment in providing care. McKesson cannot be held responsible for the continued currency of or for any errors or omissions in the information.