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Varicella Vaccination for Healthcare Workers at a University Hospital An Analysis of Costs and Benefits

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Alan M. Tennenberg ,
Juanita E. Brassard ,
Jaclyn Van Lieu  and
Lewis M. Drusin
Alan M. Tennenberg*
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, New York City, New York The New York Hospital, the Department of Public Health, Department of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, New York City, New York Division of International Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, New York City, New York
Juanita E. Brassard
Affiliation:
Occupational Health Service, Department of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, New York City, New York
Jaclyn Van Lieu
Affiliation:
Occupational Health Service, Department of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, New York City, New York
Lewis M. Drusin
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Department of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, New York City, New York The New York Hospital, the Department of Public Health, Department of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, New York City, New York Division of International Medicine and Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Cornell University Medical College, New York City, New York
*
Department of Epidemiology, The New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, 525 East 68th St, HT-308, New York, NY 10021
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Abstract

Objective:

To demonstrate the costs and benefits of vaccinating varicella-susceptible healthcare workers at a university hospital with live, attenuated varicella-zoster virus vaccine.

Design:

Retrospective review of employee medical records and data on the cost of special paid absence for susceptible healthcare workers after exposure to varicella or herpes zoster.

Setting:

A 988-bed tertiary-care university hospital.

Results:

In 1994, 224 hospital employees (3.4%) were susceptible to the varicella-zoster virus. There were 40 exposures to varicella and herpes zoster in that year, involving 29 of the susceptible employees. Nine (31%) of the exposed susceptibles became varicella immune by indirect fluorescent antibody testing subsequent to exposure. Seventeen (59%) have had multiple varicella exposures and special paid absences while employed by the hospital. In 1994, wages paid to healthcare workers while furloughed for the communicable period following varicella exposure totaled $38,463.93. An additional $24,748.74 was paid to replacement workers during that same time. Varicella vaccine to immunize all 224 susceptibles in 1994 would have cost $17,920. Absences due to varicella and herpes zoster exposure also result in disruptions to patient care.

Conclusions:

Varicella vaccination for varicella-susceptible healthcare workers at a university hospital would result in financial savings and improved patient care. We recommend that other institutions consider the costs and benefits of adopting a varicella immunization program for their susceptible employees.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 18 , Issue 6 , June 1997 , pp. 405 - 411
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1997

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