title: [The risk of pertussis and diphtheria infections among pediatric healthcare workers in Japan].
abstract: 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.
authors: National Institute of Infectious Diseases Department of Bacterial Pathogenesis and Infection Control.
authors: Kazunari
authors: K
authors: Kamachi
authors: Miyoko
authors: M
authors: Endoh
authors: Takako
authors: T
authors: Komiya
authors: Hiromi
authors: H
authors: Toyoizumi
authors: Jun
authors: J
authors: Yatsuyanagi
authors: Shioko
authors: S
authors: Saito
authors: Masako
authors: M
authors: Uchimura
authors: Akira
authors: A
authors: Sugiyama
authors: Koichi
authors: K
authors: Murakami
authors: Kazumi
authors: K
authors: Horikawa
authors: Yoshitoki
authors: Y
authors: Yanagawa
authors: Yoshinobu
authors: Y
authors: Horiuchi
authors: Yoshichika
authors: Y
authors: Arakawa
authors: Satoshi
authors: S
authors: Morozumi
authors: Motohide
authors: M
authors: Takahashi
mesh_terms: 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*
chemical_list: D018829:Adhesins, Bacterial; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial; D004167:Diphtheria Toxin; D010566:Virulence Factors, Bordetella; C065273:filamentous hemagglutinin adhesin, Bordetella pertussis; D037342:Pertussis Toxin