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Rubella Immunization of Hospital Personnel: A Debate

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Martin E. Evans  and
William Schaffner
Martin E. Evans*
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
William Schaffner
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
*
Division of Infections Diseases, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232
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Extract

In recent months several advisory groups have issued recommendations urging hospitals to undertake comprehensive rubella control programs. The primary impetus for these suggestions has been the recognition that, despite a declining rubella incidence in the general population, pregnant women still are being exposed to this infection in hospitals.

In 1979 the Vanderbilt University Hospital initiated a limited rubella control program, encompassing new and current employees working in “traditional” high-risk areas of the hospital: obstetrics (wards and clinics), labor and delivery, nursery, pediatrics (wards and clinics), and the emergency department. Medical and nursing students also were included. All persons were tested serologically and immunization was offered to susceptibles, but was not required (except for students and house officers). The Infection Control Committee and hospital administration readily approved this program.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 2 , Issue 5 , October 1981 , pp. 387 - 390
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1981

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