How should vaccinated health care workers be managed after exposure to natural varicella?
Hospitals should develop guidelines for management of vaccinated health care workers who are exposed to varicella. Seroconversion after varicella vaccination does not always result in full protection against disease. Therefore, the following measures should be considered for health care workers who are exposed to natural varicella: a) serological testing for varicella antibody immediately after VZV exposure; b) retesting 5-6 days later to determine if an anamnestic response is present; and c) possible furlough or re-assignment of personnel who do not have detectable antibody.
