[The risk of pertussis and diphtheria infections among pediatric healthcare workers in Japan].
For infection control in pediatric hospitals, we investigated the risk of pertussis and diphtheria infections among pediatric healthcare workers. Forty-nine Japanese pediatric healthcare workers in 12 general hospitals were screened for antibodies of pertussis toxin (PT), filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA), and diphtheria toxin (DT). The seropositive rates of anti-PT IgG (protective level, > 10 U/mL), anti-FHA IgG (> 10 U/ mL), and anti-DT (> 0.11 U/mL) were 50, 82, and 59%, respectively. During this survey period (Oct. 2003-Feb. 2004), 16 (33%) of the healthcare workers were in contact with pertussis-infant (s). However, all culture and PCR tests for Bordetella pertussis were negative. One of the 16 exposed healthcare workers, a male pediatrician, had serological evidence of a pertussis infection, but no disease symptomatic of pertussis. Our observations indicate that i) 50 and 41% of Japanese pediatric healthcare workers were seronegative for pertussis (anti-PT IgG) and diphtheria antibodies, respectively, and ii) although the healthcare workers had a high rate of contact with pertussis-infant (s), the infection rate was low. For pertussis and diphtheria infection control in pediatric hospitals, it is important for healthcare workers to be aware of their own protection levels against these diseases.
Kamachi
Kazunari
K
National Institute of Infectious Diseases Department of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Infection Control.
Endoh
Miyoko
M
Komiya
Takako
T
Toyoizumi
Hiromi
H
Yatsuyanagi
Jun
J
Saito
Shioko
S
Uchimura
Masako
M
Sugiyama
Akira
A
Murakami
Koichi
K
Horikawa
Kazumi
K
Yanagawa
Yoshitoki
Y
Horiuchi
Yoshinobu
Y
Arakawa
Yoshichika
Y
Morozumi
Satoshi
S
Takahashi
Motohide
M
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002648:Child; D004165:Diphtheria / Q000635:transmission*; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient; D007564:Japan; D008297:Male; D010371:Pediatric Nursing; D010372:Pediatrics; D037342:Pertussis Toxin / Q000276:immunology; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella / Q000097:blood; D014917:Whooping Cough / Q000635:transmission*
D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; C065273:filamentous hemagglutinin adhesin, Bordetella pertussis; D037342:Pertussis Toxin