Mpox — Home Isolation: CDC Guidelines — Clinical Pathway: Emergency Department, Outpatient Specialty Care and Primary Care

Mpox (Monkeypox) Clinical Pathway — Emergency Department, Outpatient Specialty Care and Primary Care

Home Isolation of People with Mpox: CDC Guidelines

What should I do if I was exposed to mpox, or think I might have it?

  • If you do not have symptoms:
    • If you are concerned that you may have been exposed to a person with the mpox virus, you should watch for the following symptoms: fever, muscle-aches, headaches, fatigue, and swollen lymph nodes. Usually, these symptoms develop anywhere from 5 to 21 days after exposure. A rash on the face, hands, and/or feet will usually develop 1 to 4 days after the initial symptoms.
    • People are not at risk of infecting others with mpox when the virus is in its “incubation” phase, or before the infected person starts having symptoms. If you do not develop any symptoms, you continue routine daily activities (e.g., go to work, school), but again, remember to closely monitor yourself for any symptoms.
  • If you do have symptoms:
    • If you are concerned that you might have been exposed to mpox and develop any of these symptoms, you should start to isolate from others, and contact your primary care provider. Your primary care provider, in partnership with your local public health department, will be able to discuss with you the suitability of testing, vaccination, and/or the need for any antiviral treatment.
    • People who are diagnosed with mpox should isolate until rash has fully resolved, the scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed.

Home Isolation Recommendations

  • People with mpox should follow these recommendations until cleared by state or local public health officials:
    • Friends, family or others without an essential need to be in the home should not visit.
    • Avoid close contact with others, including pets in the home and other animals.
    • Do not engage in sexual activity that involves direct physical contact.
    • Do not share potentially contaminated items, such as bed linens, clothing, towels, wash cloths, drinking glasses or eating utensils.
    • Routinely clean and disinfect commonly touched surfaces and items, such as counters or light switches, using an EPA-registered disinfectant.
    • Wear well-fitting masks when in close contact with others at home.
    • Avoid use of contact lenses to prevent inadvertent infection of the eye.
    • Avoid shaving rash-covered areas of the body as this can lead to spread of the virus.
  • Bathroom usage:
    • If possible, use a separate bathroom if there are others who live in the same household.
    • If there is not a separate bathroom in the home, the patient should clean and disinfect surfaces such as counters, toilet seats, faucets after using a shared space. This may include during activities like showering, using the toilet, or changing bandages that cover the rash. Consider disposable glove use while cleaning if rash is present on the hands.
  • Limit exposure to others:
    • Avoid contact with unaffected individuals until the rash has resolved, the scabs have fallen off, and a fresh layer of intact skin has formed.
    • When possible, limit the number of caregivers to one person. Caregivers should cover areas of broken skin with bandages to the extent possible and avoid direct skin-to-skin contact with the rash.
    • Isolate in a room or area separate from other household members and pets when possible.
    • Limit use of spaces, items, and food that are shared with other household members.
    • Do not share dishes and other eating utensils. It is not necessary for the infected person to use separate utensils if properly washed. Wash soiled dishes and eating utensils in a dishwasher or by hand with warm water and soap.
  • Considerations for isolating with animals in the home:
    • People with mpox should avoid contact with animals, including pets.
      • If possible, friends or family members should care for healthy animals until the owner has fully recovered.
      • Keep any potentially infectious bandages, textiles (such as clothes, bedding) and other items away from pets, other domestic animals, and wildlife.
      • In general, any mammal may become infected with mpox. It is not thought that other animals such as reptiles, fish or birds can be infected.

Hand Hygiene, Source Control, and Personal Protective Equipment

  • Hand hygiene – the use of an alcohol-based hand rub or hand washing with soap and water – should be performed by people with mpox and household contacts after touching rash material, clothing, linens, or environmental surfaces that may have had contact with rash material.
  • Cover all skin rashes to the extent possible by wearing long sleeves or long pants. Gloves can be considered for covering rash on the hands when not in isolation such as when receiving medical care.
  • People with mpox should use well-fitting source control (e.g., medical mask), if close contact with others cannot be avoided, such as when receiving medical care.
  • Other household members over 2 years of age should wear a well-fitting mask when in close contact (e.g., within 6 feet) with the person with mpox for more than a brief encounter.
  • When possible, the person with mpox should change their own bandages and handle contaminated linens while wearing disposable gloves, followed by immediate handwashing after removing gloves.
    • Caregivers should avoid extensive contact and wear, at a minimum, disposable medical gloves and a well-fitting mask or respirator. Any clothing that contacts the rash during dressing changes should be immediately laundered. Gloves should be disposed of after use, followed by handwashing.
  • Contain and dispose of contaminated waste, such as dressings, bandages, or disposable gloves.

Source

Information obtained from the CDC Guidelines for “Isolation and Infection Control: Home