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Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever among health care workers in Iran: a seroprevalence study in two endemic regions.
- Source :
-
The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene [Am J Trop Med Hyg] 2007 Mar; Vol. 76 (3), pp. 443-5. - Publication Year :
- 2007
-
Abstract
- Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has repeatedly caused nosocomial outbreaks among hospital staff. In the summer of 2003, we studied the seroprevalence of anti-CCHF IgG among health care workers who had come in contact with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever patients from three referral hospitals in endemic regions of Iran. A total of 223 eligible staff were examined. Whereas 5 of 129 (3.87%) exposed health care workers tested positive, none of the 94 in the unexposed group did (P=0.075). Seropositivity was more frequent among those whose intact skin had come in contact with nonsanguineous body fluids (9.52%) and those who had had percutaneous contacts (7.14%). Health care workers exposed to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever patients, those who live in Systan-Baluchestan province, and older health care workers were more prone to seropositivity. Where introduction of high-risk modes of contact cannot be confined, we propose that health care workers take all the protective measures when handling Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever patients, particularly their blood and other body fluids.
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 0002-9637
- Volume :
- 76
- Issue :
- 3
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 17360865