Tuesday, 6th of May 2008 |
MEASLES AMONG HEALTHCARE WORKERS
Complete text, with figures, is at http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19764
Related articles
Spotlight on measles 2010: Measles elimination in Europe – a new commitment to meet the goal by 2015
|
Eurosurveillance, Volume 16, Issue 2, 13 January 2011
Rapid communications
Measles among healthcare workers: a potential for nosocomial outbreaks
E Botelho-Nevers1,2, N Cassir1,2, P Minodier3, R Laporte3, P Gautret1, S Badiaga4, DJ Thiberville1, L Ninove5, R Charrel5, P Brouqui ( )1
Citation style for this article: Botelho-Nevers E, Cassir N, Minodier P, Laporte R, Gautret P, Badiaga S, Thiberville D, Ninove L, Charrel R, Brouqui P. Measles among healthcare workers: a potential for nosocomial outbreaks. Euro Surveill. 2011;16(2):pii=19764. Available online: http://www.eurosurveillance.org/ViewArticle.aspx?ArticleId=19764
Date of submission: 27 December 2010
We report here 14 cases of measles among healthcare workers (HCWs) in Public Hospitals of Marseilles, France that occurred between April and November 2010. All cases but one were under 30 years of age. Following the identification of these cases, we checked the immune status among 154 HCWs who volunteered to take part in the study and showed that 93% and 88% were immune against measles and mumps respectively. HCWs non-immunised against measles were all under 30 years of age.
Introduction
France has been experiencing a measles outbreak since 2008. A recrudescence of cases among children and young adults has been related to insufficient vaccine coverage [1]. The risk of acquiring measles in non-immune healthcare workers (HCWs) is estimated to be 13 times higher than in general population [2]. Consequently, young non-immune HCWs are highly at risk occupational measles and when infected constitute a risk of transmission to non-immune or immunocompromised patients [3-5]. Indeed measles is a highly contagious disease [6]; therefore, strict adherence to alcohol-based hand rub and rapid implementation of appropriate respiratory isolation measures are essential but insufficient to prevent measles outbreaks in hospital settings [7]. Vaccination is consequently the only reliable protection against nosocomial spread of measles [3]. In France, five vaccines are mandatory for HCWs: vaccines against diphtheria, tetanus, poliomyelitis, hepatitis B virus, and tuberculosis. Other vaccines such as the vaccine against measles are only recommended [8]. According to the recently released national guidelines regarding measles vaccination for HCWs, getting vaccinated against measles or completing measles vaccination is recommended but not mandatory [9]. Few reports described seroprevalence against measles among HCWs in general: a high level of immunity has been reported in Italy and the United Kingdom [10,11]. However, it has been described to be lower among nurse and medical students in Switzerland [12]. The last European measles serosurvey including French data on different age groups was published in 2001 [13].
In 2010, at total of 122 cases of measles were managed in the three of Public Hospitals of Marseilles (PHM) and since April 2010, cases of measles appeared among HCWs of the PHM. Following notification of the first case, we evaluated the immune status among the HCWs who volunteered to participate. We describe here the measles cases that occurred among HCWs from April 2010 to November 2010 and the immunity against measles of 154 volunteer HCWs working in three wards at high risk for transmission of contagious diseases (such as infectious disease, emergency room, paediatric, maternity and oncology wards). In the same period, a cluster of three mumps cases occurred among medical students at the associated School of Medicine and therefore we also checked the immune status for mumps of the 154 HCWs.
Identification of measles cases
Measles cases among the HCWs of the PHM were identified in three different ways: through (i) the infectious diseases specialist of PHM (6 cases), (ii) the occupational medicine or infection control unit (5 cases), (iii) the laboratory database of the hospital (3 cases) that contained information for all HCWs of PHM for the period from January to November 2010.
PHM has approximately 15,000 staff members including all statutory personnel and medical and nurse students.
Seroprevalence of IgG against measles and mumps in HCWs
Between April and November 2010, all HCWs (n=363) of the infectious disease ward, the paediatric and the adult emergency rooms of North Marseille Hospital one of the three locations of PHM were invited to participate in a study aimed to clarify their immune status against measles and mumps. A short questionnaire recording occupation, age and history of measles and mumps immunisation or past infection was distributed to the participants. Answers to questions were collected in Excel, frequencies, means and univariate analysis were performed with EpiInfo version 3.5.1 August 2008 (Centers for Disease Prevention and Control, Atlanta, USA). HCWs who accepted to participate in the study were invited to have a blood test for measles and mumps and to sign a written consent to take part in the study. HCWs were screened for measles and mumps IgG on serum sample by enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) (Siemens, France).Test was considered positive for measles and mumps if antibody titers were above 500 mIU/mL. HCWs with negative measles or mumps IgG were informed about the result and were offered immunisation with either a measles vaccine or measles-mumps-rubella (MMR) vaccine according to availability of vaccine and sex (MMR vaccines were used for women).
Results
Measles cases among healthcare workers
Fourteen laboratory-confirmed measles cases occurred among HCWs at PHM. The mean age was 27.54 +/- 4.70 years (range 22-39) and nine were women. The approximate attack rate of measles was of 93 cases per 100,000 HCWs. Ten cases occurred in medical staff: five were residents, three were medical students and two were medical doctors. The four remaining cases occurred in two nurses and two nurse assistants. Distribution of cases among HCWs and patients of PHM during the year 2010 is presented in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Measles cases among healthcare workers and patients of Public Hospitals of Marseilles, France, January – November 2010
During the same period, 108 cases of measles were diagnosed at our institution among patients.
To the best of our knowledge, no transmission from HCWs to patients occurred. Measles vaccination status was available for 10 cases: six HCWs were unvaccinated and four had received only one dose of measles-containing vaccine in childhood. Place of infection was considered the hospital for 12 cases (certain in eight cases (i.e. HCWs working in a ward where cases of measles in patients have been managed in the previous 15 days), probable in four cases (i.e, HCWs with no direct contact with patients infected with measles but contact with HCWs managing these patients) and the community for two cases. Two cases acquired despite the post-exposure measles vaccination performed in 48 hours.
Serosurvey in healthcare workers at the Public Hospitals of Marseilles
A total of 154 HCWs took part in the study, representing a participation rate of 42.4% (154/363); 74 in the infectious diseases department, 57 and 23 in the paediatric and the adult emergency rooms respectively. All 154 HCWs answered to the questionnaire and had blood tests for measles and mumps. The breakdown of participants by occupation and age are shown in Table 1.
Table 1. Immune status for measles and mumps by occupation and age among healthcare workers participating in the study, Public Hospitals of Marseilles, France, April – November 2010 (n=154)
The mean age of the participating HCWs was 32.4 years +/- 11.1 (range 19-65 years), 118 were women (76%). Of the 154 HCWs, 144 (93%) and 136 (88%) had a positive IgG serology for measles and mumps respectively. The HCWs in the age groups of 19-24 and 25-29 years had a seroprevalence of 86.5% and 91.2% respectively (Figure 2).
Figure 2. Healthcare workers with immunity against measles by age group and occupation, Public Hospitals of Marseilles, France, April – November 2010
The absence of immunity against measles (naturally acquired or through vaccination) was significantly associated with younger age groups (mean age 23.9 +/-2.4 years for non-immune HCWs vs. 32.9 +/-11.3 years for immune HCWs, p=0.011).
Around a quarter and a third of the HCWs did not know their immune status for measles and mumps, respectively (Table 2). The number of vaccine doses was often unknown among vaccinated HCWs.
Table 2. History of vaccination or naturally-acquired immunity for measles and mumps among immune healthcare workers, by age group, Public Hospitals of Marseilles, France, 2010 (n=154)
Discussion
Our study reports a series of measles cases among healthcare workers during 2010. Measles spreads in Europe and in France with large outbreaks among general population since 2008 but an increase in the number of cases was noticed in 2010 in France [1]. Marseilles is one of the areas in France that experienced a high incidence of measles in 2010, with an incidence of 14.8 per 100,000 population [15]. The incidence of measles among HCWs in PHM seems much higher than in the general population. One can assume that the identification of measles cases among HCWs is more exhaustive than in the general population where the incidence is largely underestimated [15]. However it cannot be excluded that measles cases among HCWs may have been missed. The high attack rate of measles among HCWs presented here indicates the high risk for transmission of measles in healthcare settings among non-immune persons [1-3,16,17]. In our study as in the general population, cases of measles affected mainly young adults aged between 20 and 30 years [1,15] who had not been vaccinated against measles or who had received only one dose of measles-containing vaccine. Our report shows that at least eight measles cases among HCWs would have been prevented if national guidelines had been applied [9]. Although the selection of HCWs on a voluntary basis may have introduced a bias in the participation rate, the sample selected here remains representative for PHM staff. However, the data may be extrapolated only to teaching hospitals in France where young students and HWCs are usually employed. Occupational medicine and infection control unit checked the immune status of staff and patients exposed and suggested post-exposure prophylaxis when necessary as recommended in the national guidelines [9]. In this outbreak, post-exposure vaccination performed in the 72 hours after exposure as recommended [8,9] failed to prevent measles in two cases. Therefore, all susceptible exposed HCW had to stay at home even if prophylaxis measures were undertaken. While post-exposure prophylaxis (immune globulines) had been given for immunocompromised patients [9], transmission to patients could not been excluded notably due to prolonged incubation period of measles.
Our seroprevalence study revealed that 6.5% of HCWs participating in the study were susceptible to measles. All susceptible HCWs were younger than 30 years with a significant association between susceptibility to measles and younger age but no link could be established with the HCW occupation. This observation confirms the need to focus the attention on high-risk age groups among HCWs. Susceptibility for mumps is 11.7 % among HCWs and is also higher in younger HCWs but with no significant difference among age groups. This susceptibility to measles and mumps among younger population is due to a suboptimal vaccination coverage with often a single vaccine dose [1] compared to adults older than 30 years that had nearly all acquired natural immunisation [13]. Our results on susceptibility to measles and mumps among HCWs are similar to those found in the literature from other European countries [10,11]. Moreover, as described elsewhere [18], we showed that at least a fourth of the HCWs do not know their immune status for measles and mumps. Therefore, in our opinion, each HCW, irrespective of their occupation, younger than 30 years should be tested for measles antibodies. All susceptible HCWs should be promptly vaccinated. Vaccination of all susceptible HCWs should be implemented in hospitals by the occupational medical staff during the medical check-up before recruitment but also by preventive medical staff before enrolling in the school of medicine or in schools for nurses. As immunisation remains the only reliable protection against the spread of measles [3] we suggest HCWs refusing vaccination should be deferred from caring for immunocompromised patients.
Acknowledgements
We are grateful to our residents Honorat Estelle, Vernier Mireille and Bonardo Anne-Sophie for their help to collect the data.
References
Assessment of Immune Status Against Measles, Mum ...
Assessment of Immune Status Against Measles, Mumps, and Rubella in Young Kuwaitis: MMR Vaccine Efficacy. Madi N, Altawalah H, Alfouzan W ...2017 M&RI Partners Meeting Presentations
The global Measles and Rubella Initiative meeting was held in Washington DC on 7th and 8th Sept. 2017. The meeting which was hosted by American Red Cr ...STORIES OF LIFE IN A CHANGING WORLD Scientists Cr ...
STORIES OF LIFE IN A CHANGING WORLD Scientists Crack a 50-Year-Old Mystery about the Measles Vaccine Worth a little pain? Back in 1990 a school bo ...20 most consulted measles and rubella articles in ...
Dear AllToday we share a review of the year 2016 regarding measles and rubella items posted on our web page. We shared articles on topics ranging from ...Region of the Americas is declared free of measles ...
More information on this great milestone can be found on url link belowhttp://www.paho.org/hq/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=125 ...Progress Toward Regional Measles Elimination — W ...
Progress Toward Regional Measles Elimination — Worldwide, 2000–2014 Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report Best read, with ta ...Health Equity Initiative, New York, NY, 25-26 Febr ...
Health Equity Initiative, Summit, NYC, 25-26 February 2016 For details, consult http://www.healthequityinitiative.org/hei/programs/summit/REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: MEASLES VACCINATION UNDER 9 ...
1 REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL: Measles Vaccination Under 9 Months of Age APPLICATION SUBMISSION DATE: January 26, 2015 1. In ...CARTOON CHARACTERS JOIN THE FIGHT AGAINST MEASLES
[source] Measles and Rubella Initiative[|source]Thanks to reader Jane Wachira for pointing out the following weblink. Measles eradication consists not ...I LOVE/HATE THIS GLOBAL VACCINATION COVERAGE GRAPH ...
[source]Rosling s FactPod[|source]This video from Hans Rosling explaining what he loves with global measles vaccination coverage trends namely rapid i ...POWER POINT PRESENTATIONS FROM THE 13TH ANNUAL ADV ...
[source]Measles and Rubella Initiative[|source]The Measles and Rubella Initiative has spent much effort fighting for its cause by means of widespread ...CALLING THE SHOTS
[source]PBS Network[|source]"VACCINES -- CALLING THE SHOTS" This TV program, broadcast on the PBS network, looks at the commonest arguments by anti-v ...COMBATING HEALTHCARE CORRUPTION AND FRAUD WITH IMP ...
[source]BMC International Health and Human Rights[|source]Corruption is a serious threat to global health outcomes, leading to financial waste and adv ...CORRUPTION KILLS: ESTIMATING THE GLOBAL IMPACT OF ...
[source]PLoS One[|source]Many countries still have high levels of child mortality, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, and in recent ye ...READY OR NOT: RESPONDING TO MEASLES IN THE POSTELI ...
[source]Annals of Internal Medicine[|source]Opnion Paper Although endemic measles was eliminated in the United States in 2000, two concurrent measle ...RUBELLA AND CONGENITAL RUBELLA SYNDROME CONTROL AN ...
[source]Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR)[|source]In 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) updated guidance on the preferred strategy f ...PROGRESS TOWARDS MEASLES ELIMINATION – EASTERN M ...
[source]Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER)[|source]During the period 2008–2012, regional progress towards measles elimination stagnated, and th ...THE IMMUNIZATION PROGRAMME THAT SAVED MILLIONS OF ...
[source]Bulletin of the WHO[|source]In the world vaccination week, the Bulletin of the World Health Organization outlines the history, status and impa ...HEALTH SYSTEM COST OF DELIVERING ROUTINE VACCINATI ...
[source]Bulletin of the WHO[|source]On the eve of the 40th anniversary of launching of the Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) in 1974, during th ...World Immunization Week
[source]WHO/IVB Publication[|source]Never miss another jab, The slogan for World Immunization Week 2014 is “Immunize for a healthy future: Know ...Measles: know the risks, check your status, protec ...
[source]WHO/IVB Publication[|source]Measles is a highly contagious, serious disease caused by a virus. In 1980, before widespread vaccination, measles ...THE RIGHTS OF THE UNVACCINATED CHILD: THE LEGAL FR ...
[source]Los Angeles Times[|source]In light of what s starting to look like a surge of measles cases spread by unvaccinated carriers, Hasting ...Consultants: Measles and rubella control/eliminati ...
[source]Technical Network for Strengthening EPI[|source]Announcement solicits interest from potential candidates to act as consultants for WHO through ...PUBLIC HEALTH OFFICIALS MARK 50TH YEAR OF MEASLES ...
[source]Journal of American Medical Association[|source]Until the 1960s, measles was a rite of passage for US children; nearly all had the disease bef ...THE TOLL OF THE ANTI-VACCINATION MOVEMENT, IN ONE ...
[source]Los Angelos Times[|source]Aaron Carroll today offers a graphic depiction of the toll of the anti-vaccination movement. It comes from a Council ...“Can we use $30 of the taxes you’re already pa ...
[source]Annual Letter of BMGF[|source]If you were asked this question today, what answer would you give? Bill and Melinda Gates ask, "Would you check ...REACHING HARD-TO-REACH INDIVIDUALS: NONSELECTIVE V ...
[source]American Journal of Epidemiology[|source]Source: American Journal of Epidemiology The World Health Organization guidelines for response to me ...Rubella and Congenital rubella syndrome control an ...
[source]Weekly Epidemiological Record (WER)[|source]Full text record of Rubella and CRS control/elimination are available at http://www.who.int/wer/20 ...Measles Press Conference at CDC: 50th Anniversary ...
[source]CDC Media Release, 5th Dec[|source]Full text, video and question and answer session for journalists all avalable at http://www.cdc.gov/media/r ...A bibliometric analysis of childhood immunization ...
[source]BMC Medicine[|source]During the past four decades national EPI programs have developed or adapted and implemented a broad range of strategies ...Lessons from the tragic measles outbreak in Samoa
Monday, 9th of March 2020 |
Characterisation of diversity of measles viruses in India: genomic sequencing and comparative genomics studies.
Monday, 9th of March 2020 |
The elimination of measles in Iran
Monday, 9th of March 2020 |
Measles-containing vaccines in Brazil: Coverage,
Monday, 9th of March 2020 |
Measles-containing vaccines in Brazil: Coverage, homogeneity of coverage and associations with contextual factors at municipal level.
Monday, 9th of March 2020 |
Website Views |
47358892 |