Infection Rates and Risk Factors for Infection Among Health Workers During Ebola and Marburg Virus Outbreaks: A...

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Health worker (HW) infection is a significant feature of Ebola Virus Disease (EVD) and Marburg Virus Disease (MVD) outbreaks.
• Previous outbreaks highlight the vulnerability of healthcare professionals to these viral hemorrhagic fevers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically review infection and mortality rates among HWs during EVD and MVD outbreaks.
• To identify common exposure risks contributing to HW infections in these outbreaks.

Main Methods:

• A systematic review of EMBASE and PubMed databases was conducted.
• Articles published before December 27, 2017, were included, with no language restrictions.
• Data extraction focused on HW infection numbers, frequency, mortality, and exposure risks.

Main Results:

• Ninety-four articles covering 22 outbreaks were analyzed.
• HW infections represented 2%-100% of EVD cases and 5%-50% of MVD cases.
• Key exposure risks included inadequate personal protective equipment and undiagnosed patients, consistent across historical and recent outbreaks.

Conclusions:

• High proportions of infected HWs were reported across numerous outbreaks.
• Consistent infection rates and risk factors underscore the critical need for improved and consistently applied infection control measures in healthcare settings.
• Strengthening infection prevention and control is paramount to protect HWs during viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks.