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A Survey of Policies at Children's Hospitals Regarding Immunity of Healthcare Workers: Are Physicians Protected?

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Natalie E. Lane ,
Ronald I. Paul ,
Denise F. Bratcher  and
Beth H. Stover
Natalie E. Lane
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Louisville, Division of Infectious Diseases, Kosair Children's Hospital, Louisville, Kentucky
Ronald I. Paul
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Emergency Medicine, University of Louisville, Division of Infectious Diseases, Kosair Children's Hospital, Louisville, Kentucky
Denise F. Bratcher
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, Kosair Children's Hospital, Louisville, Kentucky
Beth H. Stover
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Kosair Children's Hospital, Louisville, Kentucky
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Abstract

Objective:

To determine policies at children's hospitals regarding immunizations, annual tuberculosis (TB) screening, and blood or body fluid exposure follow-up, particularly as they apply to physicians.

Design and Participants:

A three-page survey was sent to infection control practitioners (ICPs) in April 1994 at hospitals affiliated with the National Association of Children's Hospitals and Related Institutions. One follow-up mailing was sent to nonresponding ICPs.

Results:

Responses were received from 62 (67%) of 93 ICPs. Thirty-five (66%) of 53 children's hospitals had an immunity policy that applied to medical students, 42 (79%) of 53 to resident physicians, 32 (52%) of 62 to hospital-based physicians, and 18 (29%) of 62 to private or community physicians (who admit patients to one hospital). Physicians were required to show evidence of an annual TB screen at 36 hospitals (58%). Immunity policies or TB screening were provided for the following physician groups: medical students, 13 (21%); resident physicians, 43 (69%); hospital-based physicians, 50 (81%); and private or community physicians, 23 (37%). Infection control practitioners reported that the following diseases had been identified within the past 5 years at their hospitals: measles, 82%; mumps, 40%; rubella, 31%; TB, 94%; hepatitis B, 94%; pertussis, 90%; varicella, 98%; and influenza, 94%. Physicians in these institutions were reported to have contracted the following diseases from patient exposure: measles, hepatitis B, TB, pertussis, varicella, and influenza.

Conclusion:

Children's hospitals vary widely in their policies regarding healthcare-worker immunity, and, in many cases, physicians may not be protected from nosocomial transmission of community infections.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 18 , Issue 6 , June 1997 , pp. 400 - 404
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1997

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