Work
Although there has been only one reported case of healthcare provider-to-patient transmission of molluscum contagiosum, if an employee who comes in physical contact with clients regularly, such as an aesthetician or healthcare provider, is diagnosed with molluscum contagiosum by a healthcare professional, it would be reasonable to require that he/she cover visible lesions with a watertight dressing while at work. Otherwise, no special precautions are needed.
Other precautions can prevent or reduce spread to uninfected people:
- Frequent and correct hand hygiene practices. For handwashing tips and information, see the Clean Hands Saves Lives site.
- Requiring notation of molluscum contagiosum on examinations requested for—
- Employment
- Recommended only for employees with regular physical contact with clients (e.g., aestheticians, health care professionals, day care employees) who are normally required to have skin examinations during pre-employment physicals.
- Camp
- Sports physicals
- Employment
- Recommending that all visible lesions be covered by a watertight dressing, if molluscum contagiosum is diagnosed by a healthcare professional during a physical examination.
- Routinely disinfecting shared equipment (e.g., kick boards, wrestling mats). The molluscum contagiosum virus is not particularly difficult to kill and usual sanitation procedures should be sufficient.
- Page last reviewed: May 11, 2015
- Page last updated: May 11, 2015
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