Risk for the occupational infection by cytomegalovirus among health-care workers. Issue 7 (July 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Takao, Miyuki; Yoshioka, Nori; Hagiya, Hideharu; Deguchi, Matsuo; Kagita, Masanori; Tsukamoto, Hiroko; Hidaka, Yoh; Tomono, Kazunori; Tobe, Toru
• Is Part Of: Journal of infection and chemotherapy. Volume 26:Issue 7(2020:Jul.)
• Page Start: 681
• Page End: 684
• Publication Date: 2020-07
• Subjects: Blood and body fluid exposure -- Cytomegalovirus -- Healthcare workers -- Occupational infection -- Seroconversion; Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; Infection -- Periodicals; Communicable diseases -- Chemotherapy -- Periodicals; 615.5805
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jiac.2020.02.011
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1341-321X

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Cytomegalovirus (CMV) are ubiquitously distributed worldwide, causing a wide range of clinical manifestations from congenital infection to a life-threatening disease in immunocompromised individuals. CMV can be transmitted via human-to-human contact through body fluids; however, the risk of CMV infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) has not been fully evaluated. Aim: This study aimed to assess the risk of CMV infection among HCWs through daily medical practices. Methods: Serum samples from HCWs at Osaka University Hospital (Japan) were analysed. Initially, we compared CMV IgG seropositivity among HCWs (medical doctors, nurses, and others) in 2017, which was examined after 1 year to evaluate seroconversion rates among those with seronegative results. Then, we examined CMV seroconversion rates in HCWs who were exposed to blood and body fluids. Findings: We analysed 1153 samples of HCWs (386 medical doctors, 468 nurses, and 299 others), of which CMV seropositivity rates were not significantly different (68.9%, 70.3%, and 70.9%, respectively). Of these, 63.9% (221/346) of CMV seronegative HCWs were followed after 1 year, with CMV seroconversion rates of 3.2% (7/221). Among 72 HCWs who tested negative for CMV IgG when exposed to blood and body fluids, the CMV seroconversion rate was 2.8% (2/72). The CMV seroconversion rates between the two situations were not significantly different. Conclusion: Our study indicated that CMV infection through daily patient care seems quite rare. Further well-designed studies with a large sample size are warranted to verify our finding.