Susceptibility to varicella-zoster virus among adults at high risk for exposure.
The adult health care provider who is susceptible to varicella zoster virus (VZV) represents a risk to her or himself and to patients. Nineteen percent of employees at this Children's Hospital had no or uncertain prior experience with VZV, and of these, 28% were found to be VZV susceptible, representing 5% of the total population of 2,730 hospital employees. During the 12 months of study, six of the potential 135 to 137 VZV-susceptible individuals acquired varicella. VZV-susceptible health care providers should be aware of their potential to both acquire and transmit VZV.
D000328:Adult; D002644:Chickenpox / Q000276:immunology* / Q000635:transmission; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D014645:Herpesvirus 3, Human / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D007109:Immunity; D008297:Male; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D012306:Risk