Infection Prevention & Control Recommendations to Minimize Measles Exposure
- Upon arrival and patient placement:
- Provide face masks for patients (2 years of age and older) and family before they enter the facility. Patients unable to wear a mask should be “tented” with a blanket or towel when entering the facility.
- Immediately move the patient and family to a private exam room, ideally an airborne infection isolation room (AIIR) or negative pressure room. If AIIR is unavailable, use a private room with a closed door.
- No other children should accompany a child with suspected measles.
- Patients (2 years of age and older) and family should leave the mask on if feasible for the duration of the visit.
- Healthcare personnel (HCP):
- Only HCPs with evidence of immunity should provide care, unless no other HCP is available.
- Isolation precautions and PPE:
- Standard and airborne precautions should be followed.
- HCP should use a PAPR or a fit-tested N95 mask.
- Transporting patients:
- Limit transport of patients unless medically necessary.
- If transport is necessary, the patient should wear a facemask.
- Room closure:
- After the patient leaves a negative pressure room, it should remain vacant for at least 1 hour.
- After the patient leaves a standard exam room, it should remain vacant for at least 2 hours.
- Refer to the air changes/hour document, Appendix B. Air | Infection Control | CDC.
- Cleaning procedures:
- Standard cleaning and disinfection are adequate.
- Duration of quarantine:
- Asymptomatic patients with measles exposure without evidence of immunity should quarantine based on their local health department recommendations, typically between 21 and 28 days from the exposure.
- Duration of isolation precautions:
- Patients with confirmed measles who are discharged should isolate at home for 4 days after the onset of the rash (rash onset is considered day 0).
- Patients with measles in healthcare settings should remain in airborne precautions for 4 days after the onset of the rash (rash onset is considered day 0). Immunocompromised patients should remain in airborne precautions for the duration of illness.