Background: In Italy, 4991 cases of measles were reported in 2017 and 322 involved healthcare workers(HCWs). These professionals are at high risk of infection and transmission of virus both to other hospitalstaff and importantly, to patients, some of whom may be at risk of severe illness and complications.According to the Italian National Immunization and Prevention Plan, all HCWs should have demonstrableevidence of immunity to measles and specific hospital surveillance is recommended. Given a recentmeasles outbreak recorded in Italy, which also involved HCWs, the aim of this study has been to assessthe measles immunization status of the Perugia General Hospital’s HCWs.Methods: A survey on all hospital staff was carried out, using a questionnaire to obtain informationon demographic characteristics, personal history of measles and self-reported vaccination status, andoffering the serological testing to HCWs who did not know their immune status.Results: Among the 1714 HCWs included in the study, 1207 (70%) were protected against measles (due tovaccination or natural infection), and 507 (30%) did not know their immune status. Of these, 461 subjectsaccepted a serological control, while 46 refused. Protective measles-specific IgG antibody titres weredocumented in 410/461 (89%) HCWs, and the percentage of immune subjects decreased with the age.Conclusions: Our study shows that in Perugia General Hospital, 26% of HCWs under the age of 30 werenot protected against measles. In Italy, campaigns promoting vaccination of HCWs are needed to preventtransmission of this infection in hospital setting
Measles immunity in healthcare workers of an Italian hospital
Barbara Camilloni;Fabrizio Stracci;Maria Cristina De Lio;Antonella Mencacci;Elio Cenci;Silvia Bozza
2020
Abstract
Background: In Italy, 4991 cases of measles were reported in 2017 and 322 involved healthcare workers(HCWs). These professionals are at high risk of infection and transmission of virus both to other hospitalstaff and importantly, to patients, some of whom may be at risk of severe illness and complications.According to the Italian National Immunization and Prevention Plan, all HCWs should have demonstrableevidence of immunity to measles and specific hospital surveillance is recommended. Given a recentmeasles outbreak recorded in Italy, which also involved HCWs, the aim of this study has been to assessthe measles immunization status of the Perugia General Hospital’s HCWs.Methods: A survey on all hospital staff was carried out, using a questionnaire to obtain informationon demographic characteristics, personal history of measles and self-reported vaccination status, andoffering the serological testing to HCWs who did not know their immune status.Results: Among the 1714 HCWs included in the study, 1207 (70%) were protected against measles (due tovaccination or natural infection), and 507 (30%) did not know their immune status. Of these, 461 subjectsaccepted a serological control, while 46 refused. Protective measles-specific IgG antibody titres weredocumented in 410/461 (89%) HCWs, and the percentage of immune subjects decreased with the age.Conclusions: Our study shows that in Perugia General Hospital, 26% of HCWs under the age of 30 werenot protected against measles. In Italy, campaigns promoting vaccination of HCWs are needed to preventtransmission of this infection in hospital settingI documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
