Determination of measles, rubella, mumps and chickenpox seropositivity of district public hospital healthcare workers

Abstract

Aim: Measles, rubella, mumps and chickenpox are the childhood diseases retain their importance in our country as well as all over the world. Healthcare workers have high probability of transmission due to their occupational risk; however by taking necessary protective measures, the risk can be reduced. Determining the seropositivity rates of healthcare workers; it was aimed to compare vaccination rates before and after screening. Methods: The personnel cards of 160 healthcare workers who worked in ….. State Hospital, from January 2018- December 2018 were retrospectively scanned. Information of 100 personnel has been reached. Demographic characteristics such as age and gender; infection or vaccination history; measles, rubella, mumps and chickenpox IgG results; old vaccination information and last vaccination status were recorded. Results: Total of 100 staffs, 19 (19%) men and 81 (81%) women, were included in the study. 89 staffs (89%) were found to be immune to measles. After the scanning, 11 of the personnels who were not vaccinated or had incomplete vaccines saw that the measles IgG result was negative and eight of them agreed to be vaccinated. The seropositivity rate of rubella was 93%. Five of the seven personnels with rubella IgG negative, agreed to be vaccinated. The lowest seropositivity rate was in mumps (79%). 14 of the 21 people with mumps IgG negative were vaccinated. The highest seropositivity rate was in chickenpox (96%). Three of the four people with chickenpox IgG negative were vaccinated. Conclusion: In a country with such a high rate of migration as Turkey, it should be noted that especially who work in high-risk places as a hospital must be vaccinated. While the rate of vaccination for measles, rubella, mumps and chickenpox before screening is low (12%); our post-screening rate has increased (34%). Mumps seropositivity rate was lower than expected (79%).

Keywords

• Healthcare workers;
• measles;
• rubella; mumps;chicken pox

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