A surgical nurse was exposed to Coxiella burnetii after a finger injury during a surgery on a patient with endocarditis caused by this bacterium, and she was prescribed doxycycline for prophylaxis.
Q fever is primarily contracted through exposure to infected animals or contaminated products, with rare instances of human-to-human transmission reported, including in healthcare settings.
Given its high infectiousness and potential risks to healthcare workers, C. burnetii should be considered a significant concern following blood exposure.