What disease is HIPAA-protected and spread by skin contact?

Any ideas?? Apparently one of our clients where I work has something, so now there's this new rule that we have to wear gloves 24/7 and immediately wash any part of our body that touches any client's exposed skin. But no one can tell us what it is due to HIPAA regulations. What the hell could it be? I'm afraid to go to work now... I have kids at home and I'm afraid of bringing back some horrible, incurable, contagious disease...

hipaa protected simply means that the information is private. I'm surprised that caretakers are not in the loop of access. What this actually is is a law that says the patient is due privacy, you don't answer questions for anyone other than the patient or ones who the patient says may be told (in a written release).
As for what diseases? Anything, including hiv, aids, or pregnancy.

Most likely MRSA, Methicillin Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus, not sure if that is spelled right, but that is probably what they are talking about.

AIDS or staph.

Possibly MRSA, but usually people should be in isolation if they have MRSA because it's super contagious. I can't think of any other diseases off the top of my head..

ALL treatment and diagnoses are HIPPA protected so it would be very hard to tell what your co-worker has contracted. Proper use of gloves and hand washing proceedures should take care of any spread of whatever disease they have. Purchase a hand sanitizer and use it a few times during the day if you are very concerned.