Identify how contact could occur
Mpox spreads through contacts that allow viral entry, particularly close contact with lesions or contaminated material. Workplace assessment should describe the procedure and protection used. Knowing the profession or identity of the person receiving care is insufficient. Include clinical care, cleaning, laundry and laboratory work where tasks involve potentially infectious sources, rather than focusing only on the professional performing the main clinical procedure.
Organise care from the point of suspicion
The facility needs a pathway for notifying infection control, placing the patient and limiting unnecessary movement. Standard precautions are supplemented by measures indicated for mpox. Select PPE according to protocol, contact and procedure, including hand, body, eye and respiratory protection where appropriate. It must be possible to put it on and remove it safely, with supplies and training available when needed.
Prevent sharps injuries during sampling
CDC advises against opening, unroofing or aspirating lesions with sharp instruments to obtain samples. These practices can cause accidental inoculation. Sampling should follow a validated clinical procedure and be performed by trained personnel. Do not improvise a technique on the assumption that a more aggressive sample will be better. Containers, transport and communication with the laboratory are also part of preparation.
Plan laundry and surface handling
Contain contaminated laundry without shaking it or dispersing lesion material. Cleaning and disinfection should follow the specified product, contact time and procedure. Give involved workers the information needed for protection while preserving confidentiality. Removal of waste and used equipment must remain within the pathway even after the main clinical encounter has ended; otherwise exposure can shift to support staff who were not adequately prepared.
Assess each exposure promptly
Report mucous-membrane contacts, sharps injuries, protection failures and other relevant incidents without waiting for symptoms. The healthcare service determines exposure level, follow-up and possible prophylaxis. Spain has vaccination recommendations for risk situations, including certain occupational activities. This does not mean automatic vaccination for every employee or replace preventive controls; individual indication needs assessment in the applicable healthcare and public-health framework.
Update without creating stigma
Recommendations may change with evidence and epidemiological context. Identify the current protocol and review implementation after incidents. Record dates, duties and barriers rather than judgements about personal behaviour. Compatible lesions require healthcare assessment before continuing duties that might expose others. Information should support care and prevention without turning suspicion into a diagnosis or automatically attributing infection to work without investigation of the relevant circumstances.
