Exposure of medical staff to Strongyloides stercolaris from a patient with disseminated strongyloidiasis.

We examined whether medical staff were infected with Strongyloides stercolaris through exposure to the body substances of a patient with disseminated strongyloidiasis. The patient excreted a large number of S. stercolaris organisms in respiratory secretions and stool-like excretions from a nasogastric tube. Blood tests in six physicians and three nurses, who were highly suspected of having had contact with the substances without appropriate protection during medical care of the patient for about 1 week, showed no increase of eosinophiles or IgG antibodies against S. stercolaris. We conclude that adherence to the standard precautions is sufficient for preventing the nosocomial transmission of this organism.