Varicella vaccination for healthcare workers at a university hospital: an analysis of costs and benefits.
OBJECTIVE
To demonstrate the costs and benefits of vaccinating varicella-susceptible healthcare workers at a university hospital with live, attenuated varicella-zoster virus vaccine.


METHODS
Retrospective review of employee medical records and data on the cost of special paid absence for susceptible healthcare workers after exposure to varicella or herpes zoster.


METHODS
A 988-bed tertiary-care university hospital.


RESULTS
In 1994, 224 hospital employees (3.4%) were susceptible to the varicella-zoster virus. There were 40 exposures to varicella and herpes zoster in that year, involving 29 of the susceptible employees. Nine (31%) of the exposed susceptibles became varicella immune by indirect fluorescent antibody testing subsequent to exposure. Seventeen (59%) have had multiple varicella exposures and special paid absences while employed by the hospital. In 1994, wages paid to healthcare workers while furloughed for the communicable period following varicella exposure totaled $38,463.93. An additional $24,748.74 was paid to replacement workers during that same time. Varicella vaccine to immunize all 224 susceptibles in 1994 would have cost $17,920. Absences due to varicella and herpes zoster exposure also result in disruptions to patient care.


CONCLUSIONS
Varicella vaccination for varicella-susceptible healthcare workers at a university hospital would result in financial savings and improved patient care. We recommend that other institutions consider the costs and benefits of adopting a varicella immunization program for their susceptible employees.
Tennenberg
A M
AM
Department of Epidemiology, New York Hospital, New York, USA.
Brassard
J E
JE
Van Lieu
J
J
Drusin
L M
LM
D002644:Chickenpox / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003362:Cost-Benefit Analysis; D006562:Herpes Zoster / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D017589:Immunization Programs / Q000191:economics*; D007159:Immunologic Tests; D017053:Infection Control / Q000191:economics*; D017758:Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009519:New York City; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D018582:Sick Leave / Q000191:economics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D014765:Viral Vaccines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000191:economics
D014765:Viral Vaccines