Annals
Established in 1927 by the American College of Physicians
:
Advanced search
box Article
 arrow  Table of Contents                
space
 arrow  Abstract of this article Free
space
 arrow  PDF of this article
space
 arrow  Figures/Tables List
space
 arrow  Articles citing this article
space
box Services
 arrow  Send comment/rapid response letter
space
 arrow  Notify a friend about this article
space
 arrow  Alert me when this article is cited
space
 arrow  Add to Personal Archive
space
 arrow  Download to Citation Manager
space
 arrow  ACP Search
space
 arrow  Get Permissions
space
box Google Scholar
 arrow  Search for Related Content
space
box Social Bookmarking
 Add to CiteULike Add to Complore Add to Connotea Add to Del.icio.us Add to Digg Add to Facebook Add to Reddit Add to Technorati Add to Twitter
What's this?
box PubMed
Articles in PubMed by Author:
 arrow  Sepkowitz, K. A.
space
 arrow  Related Articles in PubMed
space
 arrow  PubMed Citation
space
 arrow  PubMed
space

REVIEW

Occupationally Acquired Infections in Health Care Workers: Part I

right arrow Kent A. Sepkowitz, MD

15 November 1996 | Volume 125 Issue 10 | Pages 826-834

Background: Health care workers are at occupational risk for a vast array of infections that cause substantial illness and occasional deaths. Despite this, few studies have examined the incidence, prevalence, or exposure-associated rates of infection or have considered infection-specific interventions recommended to maintain worker safety.

Objectives: To review all recent reports of occupationally acquired infection in health care workers in order to characterize the type and frequency of infections, the recommended interventions, and the costs of protecting workers. Part I of this two-part review focuses on the historical and ethical aspects of the problem and reviews data on infections caused by specific airborne organisms.

Data Sources: A MEDLINE search and examination of infectious disease and infection control journals.

Data Selection: All English-language articles and meeting abstracts published between January 1983 and February 1996 related to occupationally acquired infections among health care workers were reviewed. Outbreak- and non-outbreak-associated incidence and prevalence rates were derived, as were costs to prevent, control, and treat infections in health care workers.

Data Synthesis: More than 15 airborne infections have been transmitted to health care workers, including tuberculosis, varicella, measles, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus infection. Outbreak-associated attack rates range from 15% to 40%. Most occupational transmission is associated with violation of one or more of three basic principles of infection control: handwashing, vaccination of health care workers, and prompt placement of infectious patients into appropriate isolation.

Conclusions: The risk for occupationally acquired infection is an unavoidable part of daily patient care. Infections that result from airborne transmission of organisms cause substantial illness and occasional deaths among health care workers. Further studies are needed to identify new infection control strategies to 1) improve protection of health care workers and 2) enhance compliance with established approaches. As health care is being reformed, the risk for and cost of occupationally acquired infection must be considered.


Life-threatening risk is a prominent feature of many jobs. In the United States in 1994, approximately 157 policemen [1] and 100 firefighters [2] died in the line of duty. The funerals of many were major public events: Politicians attended, special funds were established for the families of the deceased, and the news media intensively covered the proceedings.

In contrast, health care workers who die of occupationally acquired illnesses receive little public attention. Yet, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) calculates that one occupationally acquired disease—hepatitis B—causes 125 to 190 deaths annually among health care workers in the United States [3]. Another calculation projects that 22 health care workers who acquired hepatitis B in 1994 will eventually die of the disease [4]. In recent years, health care workers have also died of occupationally acquired human immunodeficiency virus infection [5] and drug-resistant tuberculosis [6]. Extensive illness results from numerous other occupationally acquired infections. Rather than receiving displays of public sympathy, however, health care workers with occupationally acquired diseases may be neglected or ostracized, their health care benefits imperiled [7, 8].

More than 10 years have elapsed since the last major consideration of this topic [9, 10], although reviews [11-22] and some prospective studies [23-33] have appeared in the interim. During this period, however, much has changed about occupationally acquired diseases. New infections have been identified, diagnostic tests for previously recognized diseases have been improved, and outbreak investigation has come to rely increasingly on molecular analysis. Moreover, at a time when hospitalizations are significantly shorter and more care is delivered outside the hospital, the groups of health care workers at risk have shifted [34-36].

Despite these changes, interventions to prevent or control occupationally acquired infection have been altered very little. Three relatively simple and cost-effective strategies—handwashing, vaccination, and prompt placement of potentially infectious patients into appropriate isolation—have been recognized and advocated for decades. Compliance with these approaches, not knowledge of the approaches themselves, has been conspicuously lacking.

To determine which infections pose risk and how risky specific exposures may be, I reviewed the English-language literature on occupationally acquired infections in health care workers. In the first part of this review, I examine historical and ethical considerations and then characterize the type and frequency of diseases caused by various airborne organisms, including tuberculosis, varicella, measles, influenza, and respiratory syncytial virus infection. The recommended interventions and the costs to protect workers are then appraised. The risks inherent in health care delivery should be considered by planners of health care for the next century.


Methods
space
up arrowTop
dotMethods
down arrowAuthor & Article Info
down arrowReferences

A literature search was conducted using MED-LINE and volume-by-volume scrutiny of infectious disease and infection control journals. All articles related to occupationally acquired infections in health care workers that were published between January 1983 and February 1996 were reviewed. Abstracts from infectious disease and infection control meetings were also reviewed. Classic articles pertaining to fundamental concepts in transmission and infection control were included when appropriate.


Historical Overview
space

The emergence of the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome epidemic prompted several examinations of the physician's professional obligation to treat patients who may be contagious. The perspectives taken in these examinations have included the historical, the ethical, and the legal [37-50]. When confronted with the plagues of past centuries, physicians have exhibited behavior that has been anything but exemplary. Galen fled at the height of the Roman plague [37]. In other outbreaks, physicians who could not flee did the next best thing: They "locked themselves into their houses and refused to come out" [37]. Cities responded by hiring "plague doctors" who, in exchange for salary, home, and citizenship, stayed behind to treat the infected [37].

Other illnesses similarly failed to inspire the heroic among health care workers. Valsalva, Morgagni, and Laennec refused to do autopsies of those dying of tuberculosis for fear of catching the disease [51] (a justifiable concern; Laennec, among many other physicians, was destined to die of tuberculosis). In the early 20th century, scarlet fever and diphtheria comprised half of all infections treated in hospitals [52-58], and as many as 5% of staff members contracted these diseases as a result of occupational exposure [56]. Richardson noted that "many nurses avoid as far as possible the care of such cases ... they fear the possible consequences" [53]. Infection control interventions, including gauze masks for scarlet fever and vaccination for diphtheria, successfully controlled the problem [56].

In 1847, a Code of Ethics written by the fledgling American Medical Association declared it the physician's duty to "face the danger" of caring for the contagious even "at jeopardy of their own lives" [37]. A 1957 revision of the Code, however, not only deleted this section but asserted the physician's right to be "free to choose whom to serve," suggesting that refusal to provide care was acceptable [37].


Airborne Transmission
space

For many diseases, the airborne route was not established as a means of transmission until the 20th century, when the work of Wells and colleagues [59], Riley and associates [60], and others showed that the organisms causing diseases such as measles and tuberculosis were transmitted through the air (Table 1). Transmission may occur in one of two ways. It can occur through inhalation, as with tuberculosis or measles; patients with relevant conditions should be placed in airborne precautions isolation (mask; appropriate ventilation) [93]. Alternatively, it may occur through the autoinoculation of expectorated infectious microorganisms onto the conjunctivae, nasal mucosa, or mouth, as with respiratory syncytial virus infection and the common cold. Patients with these infections should be placed in droplet precautions isolation (mask; possibly gloves, gowns, and goggles) [93].


View this table:
[in this window]
[in a new window]
 
Table 1. Occupationally Acquired Infections Resulting from Airborne Transmission*

 

Tuberculosis

A disturbing increase was seen in the number of cases of tuberculosis from 1988 to 1992, but the incidence of this disease in the United States has decreased 14.5% over the last 4 years to fewer than 23 000 cases annually [100]. Appreciation of the high rates of acute disease in urban areas, a vastly improved public health infrastructure in many cities, and more vigorous use of standard infection control strategies contributed to this reduction.

Several reviews of tuberculosis and the health care worker have been published [51, 61, 101-103]. A consensus that caring for patients with tuberculosis incurred risk emerged in the 1940s, with the publication of the results of prospective studies done in nursing and medical students [51]. In five representative series, 906 of 1053 susceptible nursing students (86%) developed positive results on tuberculin skin tests and 209 (20%) contracted tuberculosis [61]; these rates far exceeded those in age-matched controls.

Although only about 5% of the U.S. population is estimated to have positive results on tuberculin skin tests [104], the rate is approximately 40% among urban health care workers [61]. Rates of tuberculin reactivity are higher among health care workers who are foreign-born [105] or who have previously been vaccinated with bacille Calmette–Guérin [105]. Moreover, they may have increased risk related to cumulative occupational exposure [106]. Conversion rates among health care workers vary from less than 1% in areas with low incidence rates of tuberculosis (where rates of community-based transmission may exceed rates of nosocomial transmission [107, 108]) to 3% to 4% in hospitals that treat many patients with tuberculosis (where occupational risk is greater [109, 110]). In recent studies [64-66], employees with the highest rates of tuberculin conversion have included housekeeping, laundry, and dietary workers (approximately 8% per year before interventions) and nurses (approximately 4% to 8% per year). Recommended interventions have decreased conversion rates substantially in some but not all groups [64].

In tuberculosis outbreaks, 20% to 50% of susceptible workers may become infected [6, 61, 111]. During recent outbreaks of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis, many workers developed active disease and several died [6, 61]. The CDC has issued guidelines for decreasing spread in health care facilities, and recommended a hierarchy of measures, including the use of administrative and environmental controls as well as the use of personal protective equipment [67]. After analyses showed that preventing one case of occupational tuberculosis would cost $1.3 to $18.5 million [112] and preventing one death would cost $100 million [113], initial plans to require the use of high-efficiency particulate air filter respirators were withdrawn and less costly equipment was approved [114]. Early identification and treatment of suspected cases of tuberculosis is essential and cost-effective [115].

The cornerstone of hospital tuberculosis control efforts is the testing of employees every 6 to 12 months [67]. A 6-month course of isoniazid (300 mg/d) is then administered to new converters of any age and to persons 35 years of age or younger who have a newly identified positive result on a tuberculin test. Optimal prophylaxis for persons exposed to isoniazid- and rifampin-resistant tuberculosis remains uncertain but should include two drugs to which the isolate of the source case was susceptible [67]. The role of bacille Calmette–Guérin vaccine continues to be debated 70 years after its introduction [116-118].

Varicella

About 3.7 million cases of chickenpox occur annually in the United States [119], resulting in high rates of seropositivity among adults. In 1989, 93% of tested U.S. Army recruits were positive for the varicella-zoster virus [120]. The 1994 introduction of an effective vaccine will substantially alter the epidemiology of varicella.

Determining the rates and routes of varicella transmission was the objective of many early studies [55, 121, 122]. Among 11 000 inhabitants of Gloucestershire, England, varicella developed in 61% of susceptible household contacts, measles developed in 76%, and mumps developed in 31% [121]. An outbreak in Boston showed conclusively that varicella-zoster virus was spread through the air [123], a fact that was underscored by transmission to a health care worker who was walking in the hallway outside of an isolated patient's room [124].

Of all health care workers, 2% to 5% are susceptible to varicella-zoster virus [68, 125, 126]. Of those with no known history of varicella, 28% are susceptible [68]. Varicella may develop in apparently immune staff members [127]. The annual incidence of chickenpox among susceptible staff members has ranged from 4.4% [68] to 14.5% [69]. Nurses from areas in which varicella is not endemic are a particular concern [69, 128].

Outbreaks of varicella are a notorious problem for hospital infection control staff [129]. Alternative approaches to furloughing exposed, susceptible employees have been proposed, such as the deliberate exposure of susceptible persons combined with preemptive administration of acyclovir [130] and mandatory wearing of masks by susceptible staff members for 10 to 21 days after exposure [125]. Outbreak investigation may cost $18 000 to $41 000 [131-135]. Annual costs of a prevention program may exceed $55 000, including the costs of replacing workers on furlough, serologic testing, patient isolation, administration of varicella-zoster immune globulin, and infection control time [134]. The newly available varicella vaccine has recently been recommended [70] for susceptible health care workers. The cost of identifying and vaccinating susceptible employees, the risks of administering a live vaccine, and the possible spread of vaccine-induced disease all must be considered when an employee vaccination program is implemented [19].

Measles

Decades ago, 500 000 cases of measles were seen annually in the United States. The 1963 introduction of an effective vaccine and the recognition of the need for an additional vaccination after infancy resulted in a decrease to 5000 cases annually [119]. Outbreaks, which usually affect high school or college students, continue to occur and serve to reemphasize the importance of an active vaccination program.

Health care workers are the source of 5% to 10% of all cases of measles [71, 72, 136-140]. A visit to a medical setting [136-138], particularly a pediatric emergency department [140, 141], increases the risk for measles, and a case of measles acquired nosocomially may be more severe than an ordinary case [142, 143]. Spread may begin in a hospital and then enter the community [144].

Five percent to 10% of health care workers are susceptible to measles [145-149]. The rate is age-dependent: Sixteen percent of health care workers born in the 1960s and 34% of health care workers born in the 1970s are susceptible [71, 150, 151]. Health care workers account for 28% of cases of measles in medical settings in the United States [71, 139]; nurses and physicians make up half of the affected persons. Workers acquire measles through exposure to patients (91%) or other health care workers (9%) [71].

Vaccination is recommended for persons born after 1957. In one survey, however, 29% of cases of measles seen in health care workers occurred in persons born before 1957 [139], suggesting that this age-based criterion may not be useful in high-risk populations [149]. Targeted vaccination of health care workers known to be susceptible is less costly than vaccinating all workers [147, 150]: $23 000 compared with $71 000 [150]. Although vaccines can fail [152, 153], breakthrough cases of measles are often milder than other cases [152].

Influenza

Outbreaks of influenza occur each winter in the United States and cause substantial illness. An effective vaccine has been available since the 1950s and may be indicated even for adults without underlying medical conditions [154]. Nonetheless, rates of vaccination for patients and health care workers remain woefully low, lower than 50% in some series [75].

Numerous nosocomial outbreaks of influenza have been reported [73, 74, 155-162]. During the epidemic of 1918-1919, more than 40 nurses and many physicians at New York Hospital developed influenza, and 1 nurse died [155]. Nationally, however, no disproportionate increase in cases of influenza in health care workers was shown [43]. During the 1957-1958 outbreak, 15 of 33 health care workers on one ward (45%) developed influenza, including 7 persons who had been vaccinated [73].

Recently reported outbreaks have involved large numbers of employees. In one, influenza spread to 118 workers, including 8% of the nurses and 3% to 6% of the physicians at a hospital with poor vaccination compliance rates [74]. In another, 43% of nursing students had a flu-like illness [157]. Employee absenteeism is an indirect way to assess the effect of influenza [158]: At one hospital, absenteeism during a community outbreak was 1.7 times higher than it had been the year before, costing an additional $24 500 for sick leave. Because cases of influenza B may be mild, outbreaks can be difficult to detect [159]. In an outbreak of influenza B at a nursing home [160], 59% of staff members missed work because of a flu-like illness.

Strategies to improve compliance have been ineffective [75], and vaccine failure occurs [73, 161, 162]. In one report, no virus was transmitted to 28 unvaccinated employees who were exposed to an unisolated patient for a mean of 4 hours [162]. Despite having been vaccinated, the patient's primary physician developed influenza, presumably because of more prolonged exposure.

Rubella

Ten percent to 20% of hospital personnel are susceptible to rubella [163, 164]. Because rubella can affect fetal development, rubella outbreaks are particularly dramatic. In an outbreak in Boston, 13% of all health care workers developed clinical rubella (47 cases) [76], additional subclinical cases occurred, and 500 work days were lost. One health care worker opted to terminate her pregnancy. In Los Angeles [77, 164], 56 employees developed rubella and 3 terminated pregnancies. An outbreak at a dental school involved 17 persons [165]. Children with congenital rubella may shed virus chronically and may therefore remain contagious [166]. The need for employee vaccination is underscored by numerous outbreaks in which health care workers have been source cases [72].

Mumps

As a result of vaccination and herd immunity, mumps is now less common than it used to be. However, 15.6% of U.S. Army recruits [120] and 6.8% of medical students [167] are susceptible, and outbreaks occur in vaccinated populations [168]. In a prevaccine survey of 9299 persons, the incidence of mumps was highest among health care workers [78]: Rates were 15% for physicians (37% for pediatricians) and 18% for dentists. In comparison, rates were 9% for elementary school teachers and 2% for university staff members. During an outbreak of mumps in Tennessee in 1986-1987 [169], at least 6 health care workers developed mumps after nosocomial exposure. Placing patients with mumps into respiratory isolation may fail to prevent transmission [79, 80].

Pertussis

The number of cases of pertussis in the United States has increased nationwide since the early 1980s [119]. Estimates suggest that 25% of vaccinated persons may be susceptible [170], and outbreaks have occurred in vaccinated populations [82]. At least seven outbreaks have involved health care workers [83]. In a facility for the disabled [81], 42 of 107 exposed workers (39%) became infected. Erythromycin (1 to 2 g/d for 2 weeks) is effective prophylaxis [81, 83]. Clarithromycin or trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole is a potential alternative [83]. Use of acellular vaccine during outbreaks appears to be safe [171].

Parvovirus B19 Infection

Parvovirus B19 is responsible for "fifth disease," aplastic crisis in patients with sickle-cell disease [172], and hydrops fetalis [173]. About half of adults are immune [174, 175]. In nonoutbreak settings, the risk of school employees is 13 times higher than that of hospital workers [175]. In an outbreak in a pediatric hospital, 12 of 32 susceptible health care workers (38%) developed disease [84]. Rates of infection were highest among nurses who were exposed to nonisolated patients soon after admission and exceeded those reported from family-based outbreaks [176] and outbreaks in day care centers [177, 178]. Outbreak-related incidence rates ranging from 27% to 47% have been described in an adult ward [85], a developmental center [86], and a neurosurgical intensive care unit [87]. A normal child was born to an employee who became infected while pregnant [88]. One study found that no transmission had occurred, possibly because the source case was a chronic secretor with a relatively low viral load [179]; another suggested that community-based transmission had a significant role [180].

Respiratory Syncytial Virus Infection

Community outbreaks of respiratory syncytial virus infection occur predictably during most winters and may enter hospitals. Determining the best way to interrupt nosocomial spread has been the subject of numerous studies [90-92, 181-185]. In one outbreak [89], 10 of 24 health care workers (42%) developed disease. Thereafter, implementation of infection control procedures, including handwashing, use of gloves and gowns, and isolation, effectively decreased spread among patients but not among staff members: Twenty-four of 43 health care workers (56%) developed disease the next year [90]. Cohorting patients with respiratory syncytial virus infection appears to be a safe practice [184-186]. Masks are not clearly beneficial [181].

Adenovirus Infection

Adenovirus has spread to staff members during outbreaks at ophthalmology clinics [96-98], intensive care units [95, 99], pediatric long-term care facilities [94, 187], and nursing homes [188]. Intubating patients with adenovirus pneumonia may facilitate transmission. In one outbreak that arose from a patient with fatal adenovirus pneumonia, adenovirus type 4 spread to 9 of 23 workers (39%) [95], and at least 23 employees developed adenovirus type 3a infection in a similar outbreak [99]. Health care workers in both outbreaks developed self-limited disease. At a long-term pediatric facility, 23 of 106 workers developed adenovirus during an outbreak. The highest rate was seen among nurses, particularly those who were responsible for suctioning children [94]. Molecular epidemiologic techniques have helped confirm the occurrence of several outbreaks [99, 187].

Other Infections

In one report, hand-foot-and-mouth disease affected 17 of 136 operating suite personnel (13%), including 11 nurses [189], and cost $5676 and 82 work days. Diphtheria developed in an intern during an ongoing outbreak [190]. The occupational risk for legionnaires disease [191] and hantavirus infection [192, 193] is low. Spread of mycoplasma to 44% of 97 staff members was detected using a molecular hybridization test; two workers developed pneumonia [194]. Parainfluenza spread to 18 of 52 nurses in one outbreak (35%) [195]. Three workers developed symptomatic group A streptococcal disease after exposure to one patient [196]. Rhinovirus accounted for many occupationally acquired infections in early surveys [197]. Subsequent studies emphasized the effectiveness of handwashing in limiting spread [198, 199]. Occupationally acquired cases of typhus [155] and smallpox [200-202] have been reported.


Author and Article Information
space
up arrowTop
up arrowMethods
dotAuthor & Article Info
down arrowReferences

From Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center and New York Hospital-Cornell Medical Center, New York, New York. For the current author address, see end of text.
Acknowledgment: The author thanks Bruce Artim, JD, for research assistance.
Requests for Reprints: Kent A. Sepkowitz, MD, Infectious Disease Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, Box 288, New York, NY 10021.


References
space
up arrowTop
up arrowMethods
up arrowAuthor & Article Info
dotReferences

1.  Federal Bureau of Investigation. Uniform Crime Reports for the United States, 1994. Washington, DC: U.S. Gov Pr office; 1995.

2.  National Fire Protection Association. Less than 100 U.S. Firefighter Fatalities in 1995; Third Decline in Last Four Years. NFPA News Releases. Internet: public affairs@NFPA.org. [Accessed 2 October 1996].

3.  Mast EE, Alter MJ. Prevention of hepatitis B virus infection among health-care workers. In: Ellis RW, ed. Hepatitis B Vaccines in Clinical Practice. New York: Marcel Dekker; 1993; 295-307.

4.  Shapiro CN. Occupational risk of infection with hepatitis B and hepatitis C virus. Surg Clin North Am. 1995; 75:1047-56.

5.  HIV/AIDS Surveillance Report. 1995; 7(no. 2):21.

6.  Nosocomial transmission of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis among HIV-infected persons—Florida and New York, 1988-1991. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1991; 40:585-91.

7.  Aoun H. When a house officer gets AIDS. N Engl J Med. 1989; 321:693-6.

8.  Aoun H. From the eye of the storm, with the eyes of a physician. Ann Intern Med. 1992; 116:335-8.

9.  Patterson WB, Craven DE, Schwartz DA, Nardell EA, Kasmer J, Noble J. Occupational hazards to hospital personnel. Ann Intern Med. 1985; 102:658-80.

10.  Williams WW. CDC guidelines for the prevention and control of nosocomial infections. Guideline for infection control in hospital personnel. Am J Infect Control. 1984; 12:34-63.

11.  Omenn GS, Morris SL. Occupational hazards to health care workers: report of a conference. Am J Ind Med. 1984; 6:129-37.

12.  Gestal JJ. Occupational hazards in hospitals: risk of infection. Br J Ind Med. 1987; 44:435-42.

13.  Breuer J, Jeffries DJ. Control of viral infections in hospitals. J Hosp Infect. 1990; 16:191-221.

14.  Moore RM Jr, Kaczmarek RG. Occupational hazards to health care workers: diverse, ill-defined, and not fully appreciated. Am J Infect Control. 1991; 18:316-27.

15.  Tan CC. Occupational health problems among nurses. Scand J Work Environ Health. 1991; 17:221-30.

16.  Hoffman KK, Weber DJ, Rutala WA. Infection control strategies relevant to employee health. American Association of Health Nurses Journal. 1991; 39:167-81.

17.  Gerberding JL. Management of occupational exposures to blood-borne viruses. N Engl J Med. 1995; 332:444-51.

18.  Jeffries DJ. Viral hazards to and from health care workers. J Hosp Infect. 1995; 30(Suppl):140-55.

19.  Diekema DJ, Doebbeling BN. Employee health and infection control. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1995; 16:292-301.

20.  Clever LH, LeGuyader Y. Infectious risks for health care workers. Annu Rev Public Health. 1995; 16:141-64.

21.  Sheretz RJ, Marosok RD, Streed SA. Infection control aspects of hospital employee health. In: Wenzel RP, ed. Prevention and Control of Nosocomial Infections. 2d ed. Baltimore: Williams & Wilkins; 1993:295-332.

22.  Valenti WM. Selected viruses of nosocomial importance. In: Bennett JV, Brachman PS, eds. Hospital Infections. 3d ed. Boston: Little, Brown; 1992:789-821.

23.  Valenti WM, Menegus MA, Hall CB, Pincus PH, Douglas RG Jr. Nosocomial viral infections: I. Epidemiology and significance. Infect Control. 1980; 1:33-7.

24.  Valenti WM, Betts RF, Hall CB, Hruska JF, Douglas RG Jr. Nosocomial viral infections: II. Guidelines for prevention and control of respiratory viruses, herpesviruses, and hepatitis viruses. Infect Control. 1980; 1:165-78.

25.  Valenti WM, Hruska JF, Menegus MA, Freeburn MJ. Nosocomial viral infections: III. Guidelines for prevention and control of exanthematous viruses, gastroenteritis viruses, picornaviruses, and uncommonly seen viruses. Infect Control. 1981; 2:38-49.

26.  Kuhls TL, Viker S, Parris NB, Garaklan A, Sullivan-Bolyai J, Cherry JD. Occupational risk of HIV, HBV, and HSV-2 infections in health care personnel caring for AIDS patients. Am J Public Health. 1987; 77:1306-9.

27.  Gerberding JL, Bryant-LeBlanc CE, Nelson K, Moss AR, Osmond D, Chambers HF, et al. Risk of transmitting the human immunodeficiency virus, cytomegalovirus, and hepatitis B virus to health care workers exposed to patients with AIDS and AIDS-related conditions. J Infect Dis. 1987; 156:1-6.

28.  Gerth HJ, Gruner C, Muller R, Dietz K. Common respiratory and gastrointestinal illness in paediatric student nurses and medical technology students. Epidemiol Infect. 1987; 98:33-45.

29.  Gerth HJ, Gruner C, Muller R, Dietz K. Seroepidemiological studies on the occurrence of common respiratory infections in paediatric student nurses and medical technology students. Epidemiol Infect. 1987; 98:47-63.

30.  Yannelli B, Gurevich I, Richardson J, Gianelli B, Cunha BA. Significance of fever in hospital employees. Am J Infect Control. 1990; 18:93-8.

31.  Shanks NJ, al-Kalai D. Occupation risk of needlestick injuries among health care personnel in Saudi Arabia. J Hosp Infect. 1995; 29:221-6.

32.  Resnic FS, Noerdlinger MA. Occupational exposure among medical students and house staff at a New York City Medical Center. Arch Intern Med. 1995; 155:75-80.

33.  Koenig S, Chu J. Medical student exposure to blood and infectious body fluids. Am J Infect Control. 1995; 23:40-3.

34.  Goodman RA, Solomon SL. Transmission of infectious diseases in outpatient health care settings. JAMA. 1991; 265:2377-81.

35.  Reed E, Daya MR, Jui J, Grellman K, Gerber L, Loveless MO. Occupational infectious disease exposures in EMS personnel. J Emerg Med. 1993; 11:9-16.

36.  Valenti WM. Infection control, human immunodeficiency virus, and home health care: II. Risk to the caregiver. Am J Infect Control. 1995; 23:78-81.

37.  Zuger A, Miles SH. Physicians, AIDS, and occupational risk. Historic traditions and ethical obligations. JAMA. 1987; 258:1924-8.

38.  Kim JH, Perfect JR. To help the sick: an historical and ethical essay concerning the refusal to care for patients with AIDS. Am J Med. 1988; 84:135-8.

39.  Emanuel EJ. Do physicians have an obligation to treat patients with AIDS? N Engl J Med. 1988; 318:1686-90.

40.  Imperato PJ. Historical precedent and the obligation to treat AIDS patients. J Community Health. 1989; 14:191-5.

41.  Black PM. Risky business: is personal risk an obligation in treating patients? Clin Neurosurg. 1989; 35:487-99.

42.  Pellegrino ED. HIV infection and the ethics of clinical care. J Leg Med. 1989; 10:29-46.

43.  Friedlander WJ. On the obligation of physicians to treat AIDS: is there a historical basis? Rev Infect Dis. 1990; 12:191-203.

44.  Ha KG, Cohen DJ. From plague and tuberculosis to AIDS: a reflection on the medical profession. Tex Med. 1991; 87:76-80.

45.  Neidle EA. Infectious disease in dental practice—professional opportunities and obligations. J Am Coll Dent. 1994; 61:12-7.

46.  Halevy A, Brody B. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome and the Americans with Disabilities Act: a legal duty to treat. Am J Med. 1994; 96:282-8.

47.  Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. American College of Physicians and Infectious Diseases Society of America. Ann Intern Med. 1994; 120:310-9.

48.  Brown MP. Hazards in the hospital: educating the workforce through its union. Am J Public Health. 1979; 69:1040-3.

49.  Regan WA. Legally speaking: if you catch something contagious, think Workmen's Comp. RN. 1978; 41:27-8.

50.  Runnells R. The downside of infection-control recommendations, guidelines and requirements: legal exposure. CDS Rev. 1994; 31-3.

51.  Sepkowitz KA. Tuberculosis and the health care worker: a historical perspective. Ann Intern Med. 1994; 120:71-9.

52.  Thomson FH, Price C. The aerial conveyance of infection. Lancet. 1914; 1:1669-73.

53.  Richardson DL. Aseptic fever nursing. Am J Nurs. 1915; 15:1082-93.

54.  Barry SC. Aseptic nursing of infectious diseases. Am J Nurs. 1916; 16:687-92.

55.  Thomson FH. The aerial conveyance of infection, with a note on the contact infection of chicken-pox. Lancet. 1916; 1:341-4.

56.  Weaver GH. Measures applicable to nurses in the prevention of contagious diseases. Am J Nurs. 1918; 18:769-72.

57.  Wright HD, Shone HR, Tucker JR. Cross infection in diphtheria wards. Journal of Pathology and Bacteriology. 1941; 52:111-28.

58.  Mattson EF. The communicable disease patients. Am J Nurs. 1941; 41:27-30.

59.  Wells WF, Wells MW, Wilder TS. The environmental control of epidemic contagion. I. An epidemiologic study of radiant disinfection of air in day schools. Am J Hyg. 1942; 35:97-121.

60.  Riley RL, Mills CC, Nyka W, Weinstock N, Storey P, Sultan L, et al. Aerial dissemination of pulmonary tuberculosis: a two year study of contagion in a tuberculosis ward. American Journal of Hygiene. 1959; 70:185-96.

61.  Sepkowitz KA. AIDS, tuberculosis, and the health care worker. Clin Infect Dis. 1995; 20:232-42.

62.  Templeton GL, Illing LA, Young L, Cave D, Stead WW, Bates JH. The risk for transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis at the bedside and during autopsy. Ann Intern Med. 1995; 122:922-5.

63.  Collins CH. Laboratory-Acquired Infections: History, Incidence, Causes, and Prevention. 2d ed. Boston: Butterworth-Heinemann; 1988.

64.  Louther J, Sepkowitz KA, Feldman J, Rivera P, Villa R, DeHovitz J. Risk for PPD conversion among HCW at a NYC hospital [Abstract]. In: Abstracts of the 35th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, 17-20 September 1995, San Francisco, California. Washington, DC: American Society of Microbiology; 1995:276.

65.  Holzman RS. A comprehensive control program reduces transmission of tuberculosis (TB) to hospital staff [Abstract]. Clin Infect Dis. 1995; 21:733.

66.  Berman J, Levin ML, Orr ST, Desi L. Tuberculosis risk for hospital employees: analysis of a five-year tuberculin skin testing program. Am J Public Health. 1981; 71:1217-22.

67.  Guidelines for preventing the transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis in health-care facilities, 1994. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1994; 43(RR-13):1-132.

68.  Alter SJ, Hammond JA, McVey CJ, Myers MG. Susceptibility to varicellazoster virus among adults at high risk for exposure. Infect Control. 1986; 7:448-51.

69.  Venkitaraman AR, John TJ. Chicken pox outbreak in staff and students of a hospital in the tropics [Letter]. Lancet. 1982; 2:165.

70.  Prevention of varicella: recommendations of the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1996; 45(RR-11):13-5.

71.  Atkinson WL, Markowitz LE, Adams NC, Seastrom GR. Transmission of measles in medical settings—United States, 1985-1989. Am J Med. 1991; 91(Suppl 3B):320S-4S.

72.  Poland GA, Nichol KL. Medical students as sources of rubella and measles outbreaks. Arch Intern Med. 1990; 150:44-6.

73.  Blumenfeld HL, Kilbourne ED, Louria DB, Rogers DE. Studies on influenza in the pandemic of 1957-1958. I. An epidemiologic, clinical, and serologic investigation of an intrahospital epidemic, with a note on vaccination efficacy. J Clin Invest. 1959; 38:199-212.

74.  Pachucki CT, Pappas SA, Fuller GF, Krause SL, Lentino JR, Schaaff DM. Influenza A among hospital personnel and patients. Implications for recognition, prevention, and control. Arch Intern Med. 1989; 149:77-80.

75.  Heimberger T, Chang HG, Shaikh M, Crotty L, Morse D, Birkhead G. Knowledge and attitudes of healthcare workers about influenza: why are they not getting vaccinated? Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1995; 16:412-4.

76.  Polk BF, White JA, DeGirolami PC, Modlin JF. An outbreak of rubella among hospital personnel. N Engl J Med. 1980; 303:541-5.

77.  Strassburg MA, Imagawa DT, Fannin SL, Turner JA, Chow AW, Murray RA, et al. Rubella outbreak among hospital employees. Obstet Gynecol. 1981; 57:283-8.

78.  Harris RW, Kehrer AF, Isacson P. Relationship of occupations to risk of clinical mumps in adults. Am J Epidemiol. 1969; 89:264-70.

79.  Brunell PA, Brickman A, O'Hare D, Steinberg S. Ineffectiveness of isolation of patients as a method of preventing the spread of mumps. Failure of the mumps skin-test antigen to predict immune status. N Engl J Med. 1968; 279:1357-61.

80.  Fischer PR, Brunetti C, Welch V, Christenson JC. Nosocomial mumps: report of an outbreak and its control. Am J Infect Control. 1996; 24:13-8.

81.  Steketee RW, Wassilak SG, Adkins WN Jr, Burstyn DG, Manclark CR, Berg J, et al. Evidence for a high attack rate and efficacy of erythromycin prophylaxis in a pertussis outbreak in a facility for the developmentally disabled. J Infect Dis. 1988; 157:434-40.

82.  Christie CD, Marx ML, Marchant CD, Reising SF. The 1993 epidemic of pertussis in Cincinnati. Resurgence of disease in a highly immunized population of children. N Engl J Med. 1994; 331:16-21.

83.  Weber DJ, Rutala WA. Management of healthcare workers exposed to pertussis. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1994; 15:411-5.

84.  Bell LM, Naides SJ, Stoffman P, Hodinka RL, Plotkin SA. Human parvovirus B19 infection among hospital staff members after contact with infected patients. N Engl J Med. 1989; 321:485-91.

85.  Seng C, Watkins P, Morse D, Barrett SP, Zambon M, Andrews N, et al. Parvovirus B19 outbreak on an adult ward. Epidemiol Infect. 1994; 113:345-53.

86.  Lohiya GS, Stewart K, Perot K, Widman R. Parvovirus B19 outbreak in a developmental center. Am J Infect Control. 1995; 23:373-6.

87.  Shishlba T, Matsunaga Y. An outbreak of erythema infectiosum among hospital staff members including a patient with pleural fluid and pericardial effusion. J Am Acad Dermatol. 1993; 29:265-7.

88.  Harrison J, Jones CE. Human parvovirus B19 infection in healthcare workers. Occup Med (Oxf). 1995; 45:93-6.

89.  Hall CB, Geiman JM, Douglas RG Jr, Messner MK. Nosocomial respiratory syncytial virus infections. N Engl J Med. 1975; 293:1343-6.

90.  Hall CB, Gelman JM, Douglas RG Jr, Meagher MP. Control of nosocomial respiratory syncytial viral infections. Pediatrics. 1978; 62:728-32.

91.  Murphy D, Todd JK, Chao RK, Orr I, McIntosh K. The use of gowns and masks to control respiratory illness in pediatric hospital personnel. J Pediatr. 1981; 99:746-50.

92.  Leclair JM, Freeman J, Sullivan BF, Crowley CM, Goldmann DA. Prevention of nosocomial respiratory syncytial virus infections through compliance with glove and gown isolation precautions. N Engl J Med. 1987; 317:329-34.

93.  Garner JS, the Hospital Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee. Guidelines for isolation precautions in hospitals. Am J Infect Control. 1996; 24:24-54.

94.  Porter JD, Teter M, Traister V, Pizzutti W, Parkin WE, Farrell J. Outbreak of adenoviral infections in a long-term paediatric facility, New Jersey, 1986/87. J Hosp Infect. 1991; 18:201-10.

95.  Levandowski RA, Rubenis M. Nosocomial conjunctivitis caused by adenovirus Type 4. J Infect Dis. 1981; 143:28-31.

96.  Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis in an ophthalmology clinic—California. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1990; 39:598-601.

97.  Warren D, Nelson KE, Farrar JA, Hurwitz E, Hierholzer J, Ford E, et al. A large outbreak of epidemic keratoconjunctivitis: problems in controlling nosocomial spread. J Infect Dis. 1989; 160:938-43.

98.  Barnard DL, Hart JC, Marmion VJ, Clarke SK. Outbreak in Bristol of conjunctivitis caused by adenovirus Type 8, and its epidemiology and control. Br Med J. 1973; 2:165-9.

99.  Brummitt CF, Cherrington JM, Katzenstein DA, Juni BA, Van Drunen N, Edelman C, et al. Nosocomial adenovirus infections: molecular epidemiology of an outbreak due to adenovirus 3a. J Infect Dis. 1988; 158:423-32.

100.  Tuberculosis morbidity—United States, 1995. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1996; 45:365-70.

101.  Bowden KM, McDiarmid MA. Occupationally acquired tuberculosis: what's known. J Occup Med. 1994; 36:320-5.

102.  Markowitz SB. Epidemiology of tuberculosis among health care workers. Occup Med. 1994; 9:589-608.

103.  Menzies D, Fanning A, Yuan L, Fitzgerald M. Tuberculosis among health care workers. N Engl J Med. 1995; 332:92-8.

104.  Rosenblum LS, Castro KG, Dooley S, Morgan M. Effect of HIV infection and tuberculosis on hospitalizations and cost of care for young adults in the United States, 1985 to 1990. Ann Intern Med. 1994; 121:786-92.

105.  Sepkowitz KA, Fella P, Rivera P, Villa N, DeHovitz J. Prevalence of PPD positivity among new employees at a hospital in New York City. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1995; 16:344-7.

106.  Schwartzman K, Loo V, Menzies R. Prevalence of tuberculous infection in health care workers [Abstract]. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1994; 149:A853.

107.  Snider DE Jr, Cauthen GM. Tuberculin skin testing of hospital employees: infection, "boosting," and two-step testing. Am J Infect Control. 1984; 12:305-11.[Medline]

108.  Bailey TC, Fraser VJ, Spitznagel EL, Dunagan WC. Risk factors for a positive tuberculin skin test among employees of an urban, midwestern teaching hospital. Ann Intern Med. 1995; 122:580-5.

109.  Maloney SA, Pearson ML, Gordon MT, Del Castillo R, Boyle JF, Jarvis WR. Efficacy of control measures in preventing nosocomial transmission of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis to patients and health care workers. Ann Intern Med. 1995; 122:90-5.

110.  Jereb JA, Klevens RM, Privett TD, Smith PJ, Crawford JT, Sharp VL, et al. Tuberculosis in health care workers at a hospital with an outbreak of multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Arch Intern Med. 1995; 155:854-9.

111.  Griffith DE, Hardeman JL, Zhang Y, Wallace RJ, Mazurek GH. Tuberculosis outbreak among healthcare workers in a community hospital. Am J Respir Crit Care Med. 1995; 152:808-11.

112.  Adal KA, Anglim AM, Palumbo CL, Titus MG, Coyner BJ, Farr BM. The use of high-efficiency particulate air-filter respirators to protect hospital workers from tuberculosis. A cost-effectiveness analysis. N Engl J Med. 1994; 331:169-73.

113.  Nettleman MD, Fredrickson M, Good NL, Hunter SA. Tuberculosis control strategies: the cost of particulate respirators. Ann Intern Med. 1994; 121:37-40.

114.  Pugliese G. New TB respirators expected to save millions. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1995; 16:555.

115.  Blumberg HM, Watkins DL, Berschling JD, Antle A, Moore P, White N, et al. Preventing the nosocomial transmission of tuberculosis. Ann Intern Med. 1995; 122:658-63.

116.  Greenberg PD, Lax KG, Schechter CB. Tuberculosis in house staff. A decision analysis comparing the tuberculin screening strategy with the BCG vaccination. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1991; 143:490-3.

117.  Colditz GA, Brewer TF, Berkey CS, Wilson ME, Burdick E, Fineberg HV, et al. Efficacy of BCG vaccine in the prevention of tuberculosis. Meta-analysis of the published literature. JAMA. 1994; 271:689-702.

118.  Brewer TF, Colditz GA. Bacille Calmette-Guérin vaccination for the prevention of tuberculosis in health care workers. Clin Infect Dis. 1995; 20:136-42.

119.  Summary of notifiable diseases, United States 1994. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1995; 43:1-80.

120.  Kelley PW, Petruccelli BP, Stehr-Green P, Erickson RL, Mason CJ. The susceptibility of young adult Americans to vaccine-preventable infections. A national serosurvey of US Army recruits. JAMA. 1991; 266:2724-9.

121.  Hope-Simpson RE. Infectiousness of communicable diseases in the household (measles, chickenpox, and mumps). Lancet. 1952; 2:549-54.

122.  Gordon JE. Chickenpox: an epidemiological review. Am J Med Sci. 1962; 244:362-87.

123.  Leclair JM, Zaia JA, Levin MJ, Congdon RG, Goldmann DA. Airborne transmission of chickenpox in a hospital. N Engl J Med. 1980; 302:450-3.

124.  Gustafson TL, Lavely GB, Brawner ER Jr, Hutcheson RH Jr, Wright PF, Schaffner W. An outbreak of airborne nosocomial varicella. Pediatrics. 1982; 70:550-6.

125.  Haiduven DJ, Hench CP, Stevens DA. Postexposure varicella management of nonimmune personnel: an alternative approach. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1994; 15:329-34.

126.  Bassett DC, Ho AK, Cheng AF. Susceptibility of hospital staff to varicella-zoster virus infection in Hong Kong [Letter]. J Hosp Infect. 1993; 23:161-2.

127.  Gurevich I, Jensen L, Kalter R, Cunha BA. Chickenpox in apparently immune hospital workers [Letter]. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1990; 11:510, 512.

128.  Hastie IR. Varicella-zoster virus affecting immigrant nurses [Letter]. Lancet. 1980; 2:154-5.

129.  Preblud SR. Nosocomial varicella: worth preventing, but how? Am J Public Health. 1988; 78:13-5.

130.  White CB, Hawley WZ, Harford DJ. The pediatric resident susceptible to varicella: providing immunity through postexposure prophylaxis with oral acyclovir [Letter]. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1994; 13:743-4.

131.  Hyams PJ, Stuewe MC, Heitzer V. Herpes zoster causing varicella (chickenpox) in hospital employees: cost of a casual attitude. Am J Infect Control. 1984; 12:2-5.

132.  Krasinski K, Holzman RS, LaCouture R, Florman A. Hospital experience with varicella-zoster virus. Infect Control. 1986; 7:312-6.

133.  Faoagali JL, Darcy D. Chickenpox outbreak among the staff of a large, urban adult hospital: costs of monitoring and control. Am J Infect Control. 1995; 23:247-50.

134.  Weber DJ, Rutala WA, Parham C. Impact and costs of varicella prevention in a university hospital. Am J Public Health. 1988; 78:19-23.

135.  Miller PJ, Landry S, Searcy MA, Hunt E, Wenzel RP. Cost of varicella epidemic [Letter]. Pediatrics. 1985; 75:989.

136.  Istre GR, McKee PA, West GR, O'Mara DJ, Rettig PJ, Stuemky J, et al. Measles spread in medical settings: an important focus of disease transmission? Pediatrics. 1987; 79:356-8.

137.  Sienko DG, Friedman C, McGee HB, Allen MJ, Simonsen WF, Wentworth BB, et al. A measles outbreak at university medical settings involving health care providers. Am J Public Health. 1987; 77:1222-4.

138.  Davis RM, Orenstein WA, Frank JA Jr, Sacks JJ, Dales LG, Preblud SR, et al. Transmission of measles in medical settings. 1980 through 1984. JAMA. 1986; 255:1295-8.

139.  Atkinson WL. Measles and healthcare workers [Editorial]. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1994; 5:5-7.

140.  Gindler JS, Atkinson WL, Markowitz LE, Hutchins SS. Epidemiology of measles in the United States in 1989 and 1990. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1992; 11:841-6.

141.  Farizo KM, Stehr-Green PA, Simpson DM, Markowitz LE. Pediatric emergency room visits: a risk factor for acquiring measles. Pediatrics. 1991; 87:74-9.

142.  Foulon G, Cottin JF, Matheron S, Perronne C, Bouvet E. Transmission and severity of measles acquired in medical settings [Letter]. JAMA. 1986; 256:1135-6.

143.  Freebeck PC, Clark S, Fahey PJ. Hypoxemic respiratory failure complicating nosocomial measles in a healthy host. Chest. 1992; 102:625-6.

144.  Raad II, Sherertz RJ, Rains CS, Cusick JL, Fauerbach LL, Reuman PD, et al. The importance of nosocomial transmission of measles in the propagation of a community outbreak. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1989; 10:161-6.

145.  Willy ME, Koziol DE, Fleisher T, Koo S, McFarland H, Schmitt J, et al. Measles immunity in a population of healthcare workers. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1994; 15:12-7.

146.  Kim M, LaPointe J, Liu FJ. Epidemiology of measles immunity in a population of healthcare workers. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1992; 13:399-402.

147.  Huang KG, Spence MR, Deforest A, Bradley AT. Measles immunization in HCWs [Letter]. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1994; 15:4.

148.  Wright LJ, Carlquist JF. Measles immunity in employees of a multihospital healthcare provider. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1994; 15:8-11.

149.  Schwarcz S, McCaw B, Fukushima P. Prevalence of measles susceptibility in hospital staff. Evidence to support expanding the recommendations of the Immunization Practices Advisory Committee. Arch Intern Med. 1992; 152:1481-3.

150.  Stover BH, Adams G, Kuebler CA, Cost KM, Rabalais GP. Measles-mumps-rubella immunization of susceptible hospital employees during a community measles outbreak: cost-effectiveness and protective efficacy. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1994; 15:18-21.

151.  Watkins NM, Smith RP Jr, St. Germain DL, MacKay DN. Measles (rubeola) infection in a hospital setting. Am J Infect Control. 1987; 15:201-6.

152.  Ammari LK, Bell LM, Hodinka RL. Secondary measles vaccine failure in healthcare workers exposed to infected patients. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1993; 14:81-6.

153.  Matson DO, Byington C, Canfield M, Albrecht P, Feigin RD. Investigation of a measles outbreak in a fully vaccinated school population including serum studies before and after revaccination. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1993; 12:292-9.

154.  Nichol KL, Lind A, Margolis KL, Murdoch M, McFadden R, Hauge M, et al. The effectiveness of vaccination against influenza in healthy, working adults. N Engl J Med. 1995; 333:889-93.

155.  Klein WA, Reader GG. Epidemic diseases at the New York Hospital. Bull N Y Acad Med. 1991; 67:439-59.

156.  Muchmore HG, Felton FG, Scott LV. A confirmed hospital epidemic of Asian influenza. J Okla State Med Assoc. 1960; 53:142-5.

157.  Balkovic ES, Goodman RA, Rose FB, Borel CO. Nosocomial influenza A (H1N1) infection. Am J Med Technol. 1980; 46:318-20.

158.  Hammond GW, Cheang M. Absenteeism among hospital staff during an influenza epidemic: implications for immunoprophylaxis. Can Med Assoc J. 1984; 131:449-52.

159.  Bean B, Rhame FS, Hughes RS, Weiler MD, Peterson LR, Gerding DN. Influenza B: hospital activity during a community epidemic. Diagn Microbiol Infect Dis. 1983; 1:177-83.

160.  Van Voris LP, Belshe RB, Shaffer JL. Nosocomial influenza B virus infection in the elderly. Ann Intern Med. 1982; 96:153-8.

161.  Boger WP, Frankel JW. Asian influenza: isolated outbreak within a large closed population. Am J Public Health. 1962; 52:834-40.

162.  Berlinberg CD, Weingarten SR, Bolton LB, Waterman SH. Occupational exposure to influenza—introduction of an index case to a hospital. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1989; 10:70-3.

163.  Greaves WL, Orenstein WA, Stetler HC, Preblud SR, Hinman AR, Bart KJ. Prevention of rubella transmission in medical facilities. JAMA. 1982; 248:861-4.

164.  Strassburg MA, Stephenson TG, Habel LA, Fannin SL. Rubella in hospital employees. Infect Control. 1984; 5:123-6.

165.  Storch GA, Gruber C, Benz B, Beaudoin J, Hayes J. A rubella outbreak among dental students: description of the outbreak and analysis of control measures. Infect Control. 1985; 6:150-6.

166.  Nosocomial rubella infection—North Dakota, Alabama, Ohio. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep. 1981; 29:629-31.

167.  Nichol KL, Olson R. Medical students' exposure and immunity to vaccine-preventable diseases. Arch Intern Med. 1993; 153:1913-6.

168.  Briss PA, Fehrs LJ, Parker RA, Wright PF, Sannella EC, Hutcheson RH, et al. Sustained transmission of mumps in a highly vaccinated population: assessment of primary vaccine failure and waning vaccine-induced immunity. J Infect Dis. 1994; 169:77-82.

169.  Wharton M, Cochi SL, Hutcheson RH, Schaffner W. Mumps transmission in hospitals. Arch Intern Med. 1990; 150:47-9.

170.  Bass JW, Stephenson SR. The return of pertussis. Pediatr Infect Dis. 1987; 6:141-4.

171.  Shefer A, Dales L, Nelson M, Werner B, Baron R, Jackson R. Use and safety of acellular pertussis vaccine among adult hospital staff during an outbreak of pertussis. J Infect Dis. 1995; 171:1053-6.

172.  Chorba T, Coccia P, Holman RC, Tattersall P, Anderson LJ, Sudman J, et al. The role of parvovirus B19 in aplastic crisis and erythema infectiosum (fifth disease). J Infect Dis. 1986; 154:383-93.

173.  Woernle CH, Anderson LJ, Tattersall P, Davison JM. Human parvovirus B19 infection during pregnancy. J Infect Dis. 1987; 156:17-20.

174.  Pillay D, Patou G, Hurt S, Kibbler CC, Griffiths PD. Parvovirus B19 outbreak in a children's ward. Lancet. 1992; 339:107-9.

175.  Adler SP, Manganello AM, Koch WC, Hempfling SH, Best AM. Risk of human parvovirus B19 infections among school and hospital employees during endemic periods. J Infect Dis. 1993; 168:361-8.

176.  Cartter ML, Farley TA, Rosengren S, Quinn DL, Gillespie SM, Gary GW, et al. Occupational risk factors for infection with parvovirus B19 among pregnant women. J Infect Dis. 1991; 163:282-5.

177.  Gillespie SM, Cartter ML, Asch S, Rokos JB, Gary GW, Tsou CJ, et al. Occupational risk of human parvovirus B19 infection for school and day-care personnel during an outbreak of erythema infectiosum. JAMA. 1990; 263:2061-5.

178.  Pickering LK, Reves RR. Occupational risks for child-care providers and teachers [Editorial]. JAMA. 1990; 263:2096-7.

179.  Koziol DE, Kurtzman G, Ayub J, Young NS, Henderson DK. Nosocomial human parvovirus B19 infection: lack of transmission from a chronically infected patient to hospital staff. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1992; 13:343-8.

180.  Dowell SF, Torok TJ, Thorp JA, Hedrick J, Erdman DD, Zaki SR, et al. Parvovirus B19 infection in hospital workers: community or hospital acquisition? J Infect Dis. 1995; 172:1076-9.

181.  Madge P, Paton JY, McColl JH, Mackie PL. Prospective controlled study of four infection-control procedures to prevent nosocomial infection with respiratory syncytial virus. Lancet. 1992; 340:1079-83.

182.  Hall CB, Douglas RG Jr. Nosocomial respiratory syncytial viral infections. Should gowns and masks be used? Am J Dis Child. 1981; 135:512-5.

183.  Gala CL, Hall CB, Schnabel KC, Pincus PH, Blossom P, Hildreth SW, et al. The use of eye-nose goggles to control nosocomial respiratory syncytial virus infection. JAMA. 1986; 256:2706-8.

184.  Isaacs D, Dickson H, O'Callaghan C, Sheaves R, Winter A, Moxon ER. Handwashing and cohorting in prevention of hospital acquired infections with respiratory syncytial virus. Arch Dis Child. 1991; 66:227-31.

185.  Ruuskanen O. Respiratory syncytial virus—is it preventable? J Hosp Infect. 1995; 30(Suppl):494-7.

186.  Wenzel RP, Deal EC, Hendley JO. Hospital-acquired viral respiratory illness on a pediatric ward. Pediatrics. 1977; 60:367-71.

187.  Singh-Naz N, Brown M, Ganeshananthan M. Nosocomial adenovirus outbreak: molecular epidemiology of an outbreak. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1993; 12:922-5.

188.  Buffington J, Chapman LE, Stobierski MG, Hierholzer JC, Gary HE Jr, Guskey LE, et al. Epidemic keratoconjunctivitis in a chronic care facility: risk factors and measures for control. J Am Geriatr Soc. 1993; 41:1177-81.

189.  Johnston JM, Burke JP. Nosocomial outbreak of hand-foot-and-mouth disease among operating suite personnel. Infect Control. 1986; 7:172-6.

190.  Harnisch JP, Tronca E, Nolan CM, Turck M, Holmes KK. Diphtheria among alcoholic urban adults. A decade of experience in Seattle. Ann Intern Med. 1989; 111:71-82.

191.  Marrie TJ, George J, Macdonald S, Haase D. Are health care workers at risk for infection during an outbreak of nosocomial Legionnaires' disease? Am J Infect Control. 1986; 14:209-13.

192.  Vitek CR, Breiman RF, Kslazek TG, Rollin PE, McGaughlin JC, Umland ET, et al. Evidence against person-to-person transmission of hantavirus to health care workers. Clin Infect Dis. 1996; 22:824-6.

193.  Groen J, Gerding MN, Jordans JG, Clement JP, Nieuwenhuijs JH, Osterhaus AD. Hantavirus infections in The Netherlands: epidemiology and disease. Epidemiol Infect. 1995; 114:373-83.

194.  Kleemola M, Jokinen C. Outbreak of Mycoplasma pneumoniae infection among hospital personnel studied by a nucleic acid hybridization test. J Hosp Infect. 1992; 21:213-21.

195.  Singh-Naz N, Willy M, Riggs N. Outbreak of parainfluenza virus type 3 in a neonatal nursery. Pediatr Infect Dis J. 1990; 9:31-3.

196.  DiPersio JR, File TM, Stevens DL, Gardner WG, Petropoulos G, Dinsa K. Spread of serious disease-producing M3 clones of group A streptococcus among family members and health care workers. Clin Infect Dis. 1996; 22:490-5.

197.  Goodall JW. Cross-infection in hospital wards: its incidence and prevention. Lancet. 1952; 1:807-12.

198.  Hendley JO, Wenzel RP, Gwaltney JM Jr. Transmission of rhinovirus colds by self-inoculation. N Engl J Med. 1973; 288:1361-4.

199.  Gwaltney JM Jr, Moskalski PB, Hendley JO. Hand-to-hand transmission of rhinovirus colds. Ann Intern Med. 1978; 88:463-7.

200.  Smallpox. Br Med J. 1951; 1:288-9.

201.  Wehrle PF, Posch J, Richter KH, Henderson DA. An airborne outbreak of smallpox in a German hospital and its significance with respect to other recent outbreaks in Europe. Bull World Health Organ. 1970; 43:669-79.

202.  Foster DR. Pulmonary calcification in smallpox handler's lung. Br J Radiol. 1994; 67:599-600.

 

Add to CiteULike CiteULike   Add to Complore Complore   Add to Connotea Connotea   Add to Del.icio.us Del.icio.us   Add to Digg Digg   Add to Facebook Facebook   Add to Reddit Reddit   Add to Technorati Technorati   Add to Twitter Twitter    What's this?


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
Occup Med (Lond)Home page
D. Baxter
Immunization and health workers: overview
Occup. Med., December 1, 2007; 57(8): 547 - 547.
[Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Occup Med (Lond)Home page
D. Baxter
Active and passive immunity, vaccine types, excipients and licensing
Occup. Med., December 1, 2007; 57(8): 552 - 556.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
Occup Med (Lond)Home page
D. Baxter
Specific immunization issues in the occupational health setting
Occup. Med., December 1, 2007; 57(8): 557 - 563.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


Home page
CMAJHome page
E. Rea and R. Upshur
Semmelweis revisited: the ethics of infection prevention among health care workers
Can. Med. Assoc. J., May 1, 2001; 164(10): 1447 - 1448.
[Full Text] [PDF]




 Home | Current Issue | Past Issues | In the Clinic | ACP Journal Club | CME | Collections | Audio/Video | Mobile | Subscribe | Tools | Help | ACP Online 

Copyright © 1996 by the American College of Physicians.