My husband had shingles too. When he went for his consultation with the MO, the doctors talked to him at the doorway, and after we left, the room had to be sterilized! The same happened when we went across the street to another hospital to have a consultation with the anaesthesiologist for a procedure. All the staff came in wearing masks, gloves and gowns. I was told that shingles could be really contagious, and patients in a hospital become really susceptible. No one told me to gown up and I didn't catch it.