Does someone with herpes zoster (shingles) have to be placed in reverse isolation?

I had a nursing exam today and this was part of the test! It was one of those questions that you had to check all that apply. I can't find anything about this in my textbook! Thanks for any help!

My guess (and it is just a guess) is Yes, a person with shingles would benefit from reverse isolation.

Shingles present themselves in debilitated people, or those fighting infections, for example.

Visitors should wear masks, to help prevent the already weakened patient from receiving more bacteria to deal with.

I am not quite sure what reverse isolation is, but I have had shingles and they did not require me to limit my exposure to anyone. Hope this helps!

Usually you do not have to be placed in isolation with shingles. It is a rather common occurance especially in the very early spring.

You do not however want to be around people who have never had chicken pox as there is a possiblity they could contract the disease from you.

Good Luck witih your test!

Greetings,

The answer is no. Reverse isolation is used to protect a patient from infection by someone else. Immunosuppressed patients, for instance, may need it.

Shingles can occur in the immunosuppressed, of course, but usually it does not. So reverse isolation is not needed.

However, since shingles is caused by the same virus that causes chicken pox, contact with the lesions can cause chicken pox in a susceptible caregiver. This raises the question of isolation (not reverse isolation) for shingles patients. But since avoiding direct contact with the lesions is sufficient to prevent infection in a caregiver, isolation is not recommended.