Outbreak of pertussis among healthcare workers in a hospital maternity unit. Issue 5 (September 2017)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Petridou, Christina; Gray, Hazel; Heard, Michael; Sugden, Lorna; Davis-Blues, Karen; Cortes, Nick; Edwards, Mary; Saeed, Kordo
• Is Part Of: Journal of infection prevention. Volume 18:Issue 5(2017:Sep.)
• Page Start: 253
• Page End: 255
• Publication Date: 2017-09
• Subjects: Infection control -- public health -- outbreak; Hospital buildings -- Sanitation -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Nosocomial infections -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Cross infection -- Prevention -- Periodicals; 616.9045
• DOI: 10.1177/1757177417693678
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1757-1774

Abstract

In December 2015, an outbreak of pertussis was detected among staff working in the Maternity Unit of a district general hospital in Hampshire. This occurred in the background of increased pertussis activity in the community. The outbreak occurred over the Christmas holiday period causing staff shortages at a time when the departments were already overstretched. The high prevalence of upper respiratory tract infections at the time were difficult to distinguish from pertussis. This paper describes the outbreak, infection control measures implemented and the learning points.