A creative method for determining the immunization status of a community hospital medical staff

During 1985 and 1986, 191 of the 212 (90%) medical staff members in active private practice, who were surveyed responded to a one-page report regarding the status of their immunity and immunization to important infectious illnesses. Response rates were improved by including the survey form with the hospital privilege-renewal form that was required to be returned to the medical staff office. Of the respondents 96% reported prior history of chickenpox and 95% reported prior immunization to tetanus; of the 42 who reported prior bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination, only 17 reported a positive tuberculin skin test. An additional 32 medical staff members had a history of a positive tuberculin skin test with no prior BCG vaccination. Only 2 (1%) reported prior history of hepatitis B, and only 15 (8%) reported hepatitis B vaccination begun or completed at the time of the survey. This survey allows targeting of infection control activities, such as implementation of the hepatitis B vaccine promotion program and serologic testing of those with a negative history of chickenpox, to be developed for the medical staff. It allows the hospital infection control team instant access to data that can be simply obtained and updated regularly when information is needed about the immunization status of selected medical staff members during an outbreak situation.