[Cases of pertussis among healthcare workers in a maternity ward: management of a health alert].
Pertussis is a highly contagious acute respiratory tract infection, with a poor prognosis in non-vaccinated new-borns.


OBJECTIVE
The authors had for aim to investigate an epidemic of 5 pertussis cases among health care workers (HCW) in our maternity ward with potential exposure of new-borns and to evaluate HCW compliance and experience gain.


METHODS
A retrospective study was made using a questionnaire with HCW on preventive measures taken (antibiotic prophylaxis with erythromycin and wearing a mask).


RESULTS
Two hundred and thirty-eight patients were warned of a potential pertussis contamination. No nosocomial case was detected among patients or their new borns. Ten proved or probable cases were identified among 101 HCW having answered (N=101/210, 48%). Sixty percent of HCW people followed the antibiotic treatment and 85% wore a mask among whom 46% adequately. Non-compliance factors were mainly related to adverse effects (41%), delayed information (41%), and false vaccine protection (22%). Crisis communication was felt as unsatisfactory for 72% of HCW and recommendations not adapted for 39% of the staff.


CONCLUSIONS
This survey points out the difficulty of managing a pertussis alert in a medical ward.
UHLIN, CHU Beaujon, APHP, 100, avenue du Général-Leclerc, 92118 Clichy cedex, France. dominique.vanjak@bjn.ap-hop-paris.fr
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Delaporte
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Levardon
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D000328:Adult; D019072:Antibiotic Prophylaxis; D003142:Communication; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004917:Erythromycin / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005602:France; D019983:Guideline Adherence; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / Q000517:prevention & control; D008397:Masks; D009775:Obstetrics and Gynecology Department, Hospital; D010567:Pertussis Vaccine; D011247:Pregnancy; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control
D010567:Pertussis Vaccine; D004917:Erythromycin