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A Rubella Outbreak Among Dental Students Description of the Outbreak and Analysis of Control Measures

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Gregory A. Storch ,
Carol Gruber ,
Bette Benz ,
Janine Beaudoin  and
Joyce Hayes
Gregory A. Storch*
Affiliation:
Edward Mallinckrodt Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, and the Employee Health and Infection Control Services, Barnes Hospital, St. Louis Children's Hospital, and theJewish Hospital of St. Louis
Carol Gruber
Affiliation:
Edward Mallinckrodt Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, and the Employee Health and Infection Control Services, Barnes Hospital, St. Louis Children's Hospital, and theJewish Hospital of St. Louis
Bette Benz
Affiliation:
Edward Mallinckrodt Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, and the Employee Health and Infection Control Services, Barnes Hospital, St. Louis Children's Hospital, and theJewish Hospital of St. Louis
Janine Beaudoin
Affiliation:
Edward Mallinckrodt Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, and the Employee Health and Infection Control Services, Barnes Hospital, St. Louis Children's Hospital, and theJewish Hospital of St. Louis
Joyce Hayes
Affiliation:
Edward Mallinckrodt Department of Pediatrics and the Department of Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, and the Employee Health and Infection Control Services, Barnes Hospital, St. Louis Children's Hospital, and theJewish Hospital of St. Louis
*
St. Louis Children's Hospital, 400 S. Kingshighway Blvd., PO Box 14871, St. Louis, MO 63178
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Abstract

From February to April 1982, rubella was diagnosed in 17 Washington University dental students. The affected students represented 4.8% of all dental students and 21% of susceptible students. Because a high likelihood of rubella transmission was perceived, three adjacent university hospitals undertook an emergency program to ensure immunity to rubella in all personnel. The program reached 84.6% of all target personnel, but only 36% of physicians (p<0.001). We estimated that the program increased the level of rubella immunity from 92.2% to 98.1%, at a total cost of $140,274 of which $29,990 was in excess of ordinary expenditures. Our experience indicates that schools training health professionals face the possibility of rubella outbreaks unless they ensure rubella immunity in all students. The experience also supports the value of ongoing programs to ensure rubella immunity in hospital personnel. Without such programs, hospitals may be forced to undertake emergency programs that are likely to be disruptive and expensive and may have relatively little immediate measurable impact.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 6 , Issue 4 , April 1985 , pp. 150 - 156
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1985

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