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Question 730
Obstetric infection → Viral
Classification
Question
SSBAQuestion Header
Significant contact with chickenpox
Question Stem
A pregnant woman with uncertain varicella immunity reports being in the same room as a person with infectious chickenpox. What duration of contact meets the guideline definition of significant contact?
Options
A
At least 5 minutes
B
At least 10 minutes
C
At least 15 minutes
D
At least 30 minutes
E
At least 60 minutes
Explanation
For assessment following exposure to chickenpox or shingles, the closeness and duration of contact are important. Significant contact includes contact in the same room for 15 minutes or more. Face-to-face contact and contact in a large open ward are also considered significant. This assessment is combined with the type and timing of exposure and the woman's susceptibility to determine whether further investigation or post-exposure prophylaxis is required.
Option Validity
A) the specified same-room threshold is not 5 minutes.
B) the specified same-room threshold is not 10 minutes.
D) waiting until 30 minutes would exclude exposures that meet the guideline definition.
E) 60 minutes is not required for contact to be considered significant.
Further Reading
RCOG Green-top Guideline No. 13, Chickenpox in Pregnancy, section 4.3.