Measles susceptibility and immunization: experiences in a forensic psychiatric hospital.
BACKGROUND
In response to a measles outbreak in the community, a measles immunization program was developed at our hospital for forensic psychiatric patients.


METHODS
Measles antibody screening of all employees and patients by means of an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was followed by vaccination of susceptible persons.


RESULTS
Serum samples from 813 employees and 868 patients during a 6-month period were analyzed. The susceptibility rate was 16.15% for employees and 13.60% for patients born in or after 1957. It was 4.67% for employees and 5.40% for patients born before 1957. The overall rate was 7.38% for employees and 8.53% for patients. A rate of 5% is known to be sufficient for transmission in institutions. Vaccine was given to 84.51% of susceptible patients. Vaccine failure occurred in 8.33%. Residual susceptibility rate was 1.84%.


CONCLUSIONS
Cost analysis showed that screening of all individuals and immunization of susceptible persons was the most cost-effective method for measles control in our institutional setting.
Bui
H D
HD
Department of Medicine, Patton State Hospital, CA 92369.
Dawson
A C
AC
Hattis
R P
RP
Overby
S F
SF
D000914:Antibodies, Viral / Q000276:immunology; D002140:California; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008457:Measles / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology*; D008458:Measles Vaccine; D008459:Measles virus / Q000276:immunology; D011329:Prisoners; D014611:Vaccination
D000914:Antibodies, Viral; D008458:Measles Vaccine