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Readers:' Forum: Nosocomial Rubella—Consequences of an Outbreak and Efficacy of a Mandatory Immunization Program

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Peter N.R. Heseltine ,
Marie Ripper  and
Patricia Wohlford
Peter N.R. Heseltine*
Affiliation:
Departments of Hospital Epidemiology and Medicine, Los Angeles County-, University of Southern California Medical Center, and the University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
Marie Ripper
Affiliation:
Departments of Hospital Epidemiology and Medicine, Los Angeles County-, University of Southern California Medical Center, and the University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
Patricia Wohlford
Affiliation:
Departments of Hospital Epidemiology and Medicine, Los Angeles County-, University of Southern California Medical Center, and the University of Southern California School of Medicine, Los Angeles, California
*
Box 596, LAC-USC Medical Center, 1200 North State Street, Los Angeles, CA 90033
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Abstract

An outbreak of rubella in a large metropolitan hospital is described. Nineteen cases among employees and three secondary cases in family members occurred. Nosocomial cases occurred among the 3,900 employees of an adult medical-surgical unit where a voluntary program of rubella immunization was in effect. No cases occurred among the 1,400 employees of the women's and pediatric units with mandatory policies, despite interfacility and community exposure. Ten pregnant women were among the 377 contacts of the cases. Five were sero-negative to rubella. Two who developed clinical rubella, one asymptomatic sero-conversion and one other, all elected to terminate their pregnancies. The remaining woman, exposed in her third trimester delivered a normal infant. We conclude a policy requiring new employees to be rubella immune is more effective in preventing nosocomial rubella than a voluntary program and is desirable in view of the potential consequences of an outbreak to pregnant employees.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 6 , Issue 9 , September 1985 , pp. 371 - 374
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1985

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