title: Control of scabies outbreaks in an Italian hospital: an information-centered management strategy.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Scabies is a dermatologic infestation caused by Sarcoptes scabiei. In industrialized countries, hospitals and other health structures can sometimes be hit. The optimal management of scabies outbreaks still has to be established, mass prophylaxis being one possible option.
  
  
  METHODS
  To identify the optimal approach to containing this re-emerging disease, a local health authority in Lombardy, Northern Italy, carried out an epidemiologic study into 2 scabies epidemics that took place from September to December 2012 in a 600-bed hospital with 26,000 admissions a year.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over a 3-month period, there were 12 cases of scabies on 4 wards; 43 contacts received prophylaxis. When the first cases were identified, an information campaign involving all hospital personnel was immediately set up. Regular staff meetings were organized, and information leaflets were distributed to patients. Family doctors of discharged patients were informed of the outbreak.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A management model based on an information-centered strategy was used in place of mass prophylaxis to deal with scabies epidemics. The success of this approach was confirmed by the managers of the hospital involved (reduced expenditure for prophylactic drugs) and by hospital staff who did not have to deal with potential drug adverse effects.
authors.affiliation: Scuola di Specializzazione in Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, University of Milan, Milan, Italy. Electronic address: matteo.capobussi@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Matteo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Capobussi
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento PAC, ASL Como, Como, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuliana
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Sabatino
authors.affiliation: Servizio di Medicina Preventiva nelle Comunità, ASL Como, Como, Italy.
authors.forename: Annalisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Donadini
authors.affiliation: Direzione Sanitaria, ASL Como, Como, Italy.
authors.forename: Carlo A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Tersalvi
authors.affiliation: Scuola di Specializzazione in Igiene e Medicina Preventiva, University of Milan, Milan, Italy; Fondazione IRCCS Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Silvana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Castaldi
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D016021:Epidemiologic Studies; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods*; D033181:Information Dissemination / Q000379:methods*; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D012532:Scabies / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: Epidemic; Epidemiological study; Nosocomial transmission; Prophylaxis; Sarcoptes scabiei