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dc.contributor.authorGallagher, J
dc.contributor.authorQuaid, B
dc.contributor.authorCryan, B
dc.date.accessioned2012-02-03T15:15:32Z
dc.date.available2012-02-03T15:15:32Z
dc.date.issued2012-02-03T15:15:32Z
dc.identifier.citationOccup Med (Lond). 1996 Aug;46(4):289-92.en_GB
dc.identifier.issn0962-7480 (Print)en_GB
dc.identifier.issn0962-7480 (Linking)en_GB
dc.identifier.pmid8854707en_GB
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/10147/209223
dc.description.abstractVaricella zoster virus (VZV) is an occupational hazard for a percentage of health care staff. Nine hundred and seventy staff members attending the Occupational Health Department at Cork University Hospital took part in the survey. A latex agglutination assay was used to determine the health care workers immune status to VZV. Of the 970 workers tested, 928 (95.7%) were immune to VZV. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of an enquiry regarding a history of chicken-pox was determined on a sample of 206 health care workers. The positive predictive value was 95% (119/125) and the negative predictive value was 11% (4/35). The sensitivity of the enquiry was 79% (119/150), the specificity was 40% (4/10), reducing to 61% (119/195) and 36% (4/11) respectively when individuals with uncertain histories were included in the calculations. The advantages and disadvantages of selective staff screening are discussed. In the authors' opinion all health care workers involved in the clinical care of patients should be screened by serology for past VZV infection before taking up duty and those who are susceptible to VZV should be made aware of the risks and health effects associated with VZV if contracted.
dc.language.isoengen_GB
dc.subject.meshAdulten_GB
dc.subject.meshAntibodies, Viral/*isolation & purificationen_GB
dc.subject.meshChickenpox/prevention & control/transmissionen_GB
dc.subject.meshCross Infection/*transmission/virologyen_GB
dc.subject.meshEnzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assayen_GB
dc.subject.meshFluorescent Antibody Techniqueen_GB
dc.subject.meshHerpesvirus 3, Human/*immunologyen_GB
dc.subject.meshHumansen_GB
dc.subject.meshImmunoglobulin G/isolation & purificationen_GB
dc.subject.meshImmunoglobulin M/isolation & purificationen_GB
dc.subject.meshInfectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional/prevention & controlen_GB
dc.subject.meshIreland/epidemiologyen_GB
dc.subject.meshLatex Fixation Testsen_GB
dc.subject.meshMiddle Ageden_GB
dc.subject.mesh*Occupational Exposureen_GB
dc.subject.mesh*Personnel, Hospitalen_GB
dc.subject.meshSensitivity and Specificityen_GB
dc.titleSusceptibility to varicella zoster virus infection in health care workers.en_GB
dc.contributor.departmentOccupational Health Department, Cork University Hospital, Wilton, Ireland.en_GB
dc.identifier.journalOccupational medicine (Oxford, England)en_GB
dc.description.provinceMunster
html.description.abstractVaricella zoster virus (VZV) is an occupational hazard for a percentage of health care staff. Nine hundred and seventy staff members attending the Occupational Health Department at Cork University Hospital took part in the survey. A latex agglutination assay was used to determine the health care workers immune status to VZV. Of the 970 workers tested, 928 (95.7%) were immune to VZV. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of an enquiry regarding a history of chicken-pox was determined on a sample of 206 health care workers. The positive predictive value was 95% (119/125) and the negative predictive value was 11% (4/35). The sensitivity of the enquiry was 79% (119/150), the specificity was 40% (4/10), reducing to 61% (119/195) and 36% (4/11) respectively when individuals with uncertain histories were included in the calculations. The advantages and disadvantages of selective staff screening are discussed. In the authors' opinion all health care workers involved in the clinical care of patients should be screened by serology for past VZV infection before taking up duty and those who are susceptible to VZV should be made aware of the risks and health effects associated with VZV if contracted.


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