What condition requires healthcare workers to be restricted due to its highly contagious nature?

Varicella, commonly known as chickenpox, is a highly contagious viral infection that can spread easily from person to person through respiratory droplets or direct contact with the characteristic rash. In healthcare settings, the risk of transmission can have serious implications, particularly for vulnerable populations such as infants, pregnant women, and individuals with compromised immune systems.

Due to this high level of contagiousness, healthcare workers who are not immune or who have not been vaccinated against varicella are typically required to be restricted from working in environments where they may come into contact with patients who are susceptible to the infection. This restriction helps prevent outbreaks and protects both the patients and the healthcare workers themselves.

In contrast, while conditions like Group A Strep and infectious diarrhea can be contagious, they do not have the same level of contagious potential and specific restriction protocols as varicella. Conjunctivitis, or pink eye, while contagious, typically does not lead to the same level of healthcare worker restrictions as varicella.