Cytomegalovirus infection among employees of a children's hospital: no evidence for increased risk associated with patient care

Article Abstract:

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is one of a group of herpesviruses which inhabit the salivary glands and may result in infection or remain inactive. The virus is commonly found in infants, but may occur at any time, with variable severity. The CMV-infected individual may be without symptoms, or may have a fever or complications involving the liver or spleen. In infants, this virus can cause mental or motor retardation and death. Recent studies have indicated a greater prevalence of CMV infection among adults who have close contact with children, such as day-care workers and primary caregivers within the family. To further investigate this relationship, a four-year study was conducted among 1,250 employees at a children's hospital. The group comprised of a variety of personnel, including administrators, laboratory workers, and individuals who had direct patient contact. At the beginning of the study, 63 percent (783) of the group tested positive for cytomegalovirus. Factors that were associated with individuals who were positive for CMV antibodies were age (over 30 years), female sex, black race, less than 16 years of education, more than one year of employment, and marital status. Of the group who tested negative, 300 were followed-up for an average of 1.96 years. Out of this subgroup, only 13 individuals developed the CMV antibodies, which is comparable to the incidence that is found in the general population. No correlations were found between those testing positive and the number of hours worked or job type. It was concluded that employment in a children's hospital does not increase a worker's risk for CMV infection. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Case studies, Risk factors, Demographic aspects, Virus diseases, Cytomegalovirus infections, Allied health personnel, Child health services

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Update: investigations of persons treated by HIV-infected health-care workers - United States

Article Abstract:

Transmission of HIV infection may be low between HIV-positive health care workers and their patients. A teenage girl was infected with HIV by an HIV-positive dentist in Florida. Five other patients had been infected by the dentist during different dental procedures. The girl had been a patient of the dentist between 1987 and 1989. She had no other risk factors for HIV, and five of her six lifetime sex partners were HIV-negative. The virus from the patient was genetically similar to the virus from the dentist and from the five other infected patients. Researchers examined the incidence of HIV infection among 19,036 patients treated by 57 HIV-positive health care workers. Ninety-two patients were HIV-positive. These patients were treated by 11 of the infected health care workers. Follow-up studies found that none of the patients were infected by the health care workers. None of the patients of the other 46 infected health care workers were HIV-positive.

HIV infection, HIV infections, HIV (Viruses), HIV, Disease transmission, Patients

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Chlamydial infection and sexual behavior in young pregnant teenagers

Article Abstract:

Pregnant teenage girls may have an increased risk of an infection caused by Chlamydia trachomatis as a result of high-risk sexual behavior. Infections caused by Chlamydia trachomatis are transmitted sexually and can cause abnormalities in a developing fetus. Among 267 pregnant teenage girls between 12 and 17 years old, 24% were diagnosed with a Chlamydia infection sometime during their pregnancy. Nineteen percent were diagnosed with a Chlamydia infection during their first trimester of pregnancy. Of the 178 girls who were tested during their third trimester of pregnancy, 8% were diagnosed with a Chlamydia infection. Other sexually transmitted diseases the girls were diagnosed with during their pregnancy included gonorrhea, syphilis and trichomonas. Eighty-eight percent of the girls delivered a live infant, 5% suffered a stillbirth or miscarriage and pregnancy outcome was unknown in 7%.

Statistics, Teenage girls, Pregnant women, Chlamydia infections

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