RUBELLA OUTBREAK AMONG HOSPITAL EMPLOYEES

  • 1 January 1981
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 57  (3) , 283-288
Abstract
A rubella outbreak among medical staff on the obstetric service of a large Los Angeles, California, USA, hospital was studied. Fifteen cases of suspected rubella were reported among hospital personnel during a 2 mo. period in 1978. Of these, 4 were confirmed, 2 by viral isolation and serology and 2 by serologic study alone. A 5th case, the index, had a convalescent-phase serum with an elevated rubella hemaglutination inhibition (HAI) antibody titer. A list of 231 pregnant women who may have been exposed to any of the 15 suspect cases was assembled. Postexposure sera were obtained from only 140 (61%) of the exposed women. Thirty-five (25%) of these women were without detectable rubella HAI antibody. A 2nd serum sample was obtained from 93 women 2-3 wk after the 1st, and no 4-fold rises in titer were observed. To evaluate those with suspicious high stationary titers, 60 specimens were selected for IgM testing. Only 1 was positive for IgM antibody. A postexposure illness survey revealed that 20 (15%) of 130 women reported various rash-like illnesses after their visit to the hospital. There were no reports of affected offspring in any of the exposed women. Staff members [410] submitted sera for antibody testing; 76 (19.2%) were without detectable rubella HAI antibody. This outbreak is discussed in light of recent changes in rubella epidemiology, and several recommendations for hospital policy are proposed.

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