AI Article Synopsis
- A study was conducted in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to evaluate occupational Marburg hemorrhagic fever (MHF) infection among health workers, focusing on exposure risks and protection measures.
- The serosurvey revealed one new case of MHF among health workers, with insufficient protective measures, especially during non-invasive procedures, highlighting a gap in safety practices despite some awareness of infection control.
- Key reasons for the inconsistent use of protective gear included a lack of availability, reliance on traditional beliefs about disease origins, and emotional connections to ill peers, indicating a need for improved hospital hygiene and training for health workers.
Article Abstract
Background: Occupational transmission to health workers (HWs) has been a typical feature of Marburg hemorrhagic fever (MHF) outbreaks. The goal of this study was to identify cases of occupational MHF in HWs from Durba and Watsa, Democratic Republic of the Congo; to assess levels of exposure and protection; and to explore reasons for inconsistent use of protective gear.
Methods: A serosurvey of 48 HWs who cared for patients with MHF was performed. In addition, HWs were given a questionnaire on types of exposure, use of protective gear, and symptoms after contact. Informal and in-depth interviews with HWs were also performed.
Results: We found 1 HW who was seropositive for MHF, in addition to 5 cases of occupational MHF known beforehand; 4 infections had occurred after the introduction of infection control. HWs protected themselves better during invasive procedures (injections, venipuncture, and surgery) than during noninvasive procedures, but the overall level of protection in the hospital remained insufficient, particularly outside of isolation wards. The reasons for inconsistent use of protective gear included insufficient availability of the gear, adherence to traditional explanatory models of the origin of disease, and peer bonding with sick colleagues.
Conclusions: Infection control must not focus too exclusively on the establishment of isolation wards but should aim at improving overall hospital hygiene. Training of HWs should allow them to voice and discuss their doubts and prepare them for the peculiarities of caring for ill colleagues.
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| http://dx.doi.org/10.1086/520540 | DOI Listing |
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