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Susceptibility to Varicella-Zoster Virus Among Adults at High Risk for Exposure

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Sherman J. Alter ,
Jeanne A. Hammond ,
Carol J. McVey  and
Martin G. Myers
Sherman J. Alter
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases and the Program in Infection Control, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Jeanne A. Hammond
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases and the Program in Infection Control, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Carol J. McVey
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases and the Program in Infection Control, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
Martin G. Myers*
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases and the Program in Infection Control, Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
*
Children's Hospital Research Foundation, Elland and Bethesda Avenues, Cincinnati, OH 45229
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Abstract

The adult health care provider who is susceptible to varicella zoster virus (VZV) represents a risk to her or himself and to patients. Nineteen percent of employees at this Children's Hospital had no or uncertain prior experience with VZV, and of these, 28% were found to be VZV susceptible, representing 5% of the total population of 2,730 hospital employees. During the 12 months of study, six of the potential 135 to 137 VZV-susceptible individuals acquired varicella. VZV-susceptible health care providers should be aware of their potential to both acquire and transmit VZV.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 7 , Issue 9 , September 1986 , pp. 448 - 451
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1986

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