Abstract
We conducted this study to determine the risk of transmission of Q fever to health care workers (HCWs) during perioperative exposure to Coxiellaburnetii-infected thoracic endovascular aneurysm stent graft. Pre-operative and 6-week post-operative phase I and II IgG Q fever antibody titers were determined in 14 staff members of an operation room. The room had a negative pressure and all the members of the surgical team wore either a fitted N-95 mask or a powered purified air respirator. Phase I and II IgG antibody titers were <1:16 for 11 of the 14 studied HCWs; 2 HCWs did not follow up at 6 weeks and 1 had a pre-exposure phase II IgG titer of 1:128 with no change 6 weeks later. We concluded that risk of transmission of C. burnetii in the operating room from infected patient to HCWs who wore appropriate personal protective equipment is low.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 46-49 |
Number of pages | 4 |
Journal | International Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine |
Volume | 8 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Jan 2017 |
Keywords
- Coxiella burnetii
- Health personnel
- Infection control
- Operating rooms
- Personal protective equipment
- Q fever
- Stents
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health