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Risk for the occupational infection by cytomegalovirus among health-care workers
Miyuki Takao1, Nori Yoshioka2, Hideharu Hagiya3
1Division of Infection Control and Prevention, Osaka University Hospital, Japan; Laboratory for Clinical Investigation, Osaka University Hospital, Japan; Department of Biomedical Informatics, Osaka University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka, Japan.
Background:
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) are ubiquitously distributed worldwide, causing a wide range of clinical manifestations from congenital infection to a life-threatening disease in immunocompromised individuals. CMV can be transmitted via human-to-human contact through body fluids; however, the risk of CMV infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) has not been fully evaluated.
Aim:
This study aimed to assess the risk of CMV infection among HCWs through daily medical practices.
Methods:
Serum samples from HCWs at Osaka University Hospital (Japan) were analysed. Initially, we compared CMV IgG seropositivity among HCWs (medical doctors, nurses, and others) in 2017, which was examined after 1 year to evaluate seroconversion rates among those with seronegative results. Then, we examined CMV seroconversion rates in HCWs who were exposed to blood and body fluids.
Findings:
We analysed 1153 samples of HCWs (386 medical doctors, 468 nurses, and 299 others), of which CMV seropositivity rates were not significantly different (68.9%, 70.3%, and 70.9%, respectively). Of these, 63.9% (221/346) of CMV seronegative HCWs were followed after 1 year, with CMV seroconversion rates of 3.2% (7/221). Among 72 HCWs who tested negative for CMV IgG when exposed to blood and body fluids, the CMV seroconversion rate was 2.8% (2/72). The CMV seroconversion rates between the two situations were not significantly different.
Conclusion:
Our study indicated that CMV infection through daily patient care seems quite rare. Further well-designed studies with a large sample size are warranted to verify our finding.
Insights
Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection risk for healthcare workers (HCWs) is low during daily patient care. Studies show CMV seroconversion rates are similar even with exposure to bodily fluids.
Area of Science:
- Virology
- Infectious Diseases
- Occupational Health
Background:
- Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a common virus with varied clinical outcomes, from congenital issues to severe disease in immunocompromised individuals.
- Transmission occurs through bodily fluids, but the specific risk to healthcare workers (HCWs) remains incompletely understood.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the risk of Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection among healthcare workers (HCWs) in their routine clinical practice.
- To assess CMV seroconversion rates in HCWs based on their exposure to blood and body fluids.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of serum samples from 1153 HCWs at Osaka University Hospital, Japan.
- Comparison of CMV IgG seropositivity rates among doctors, nurses, and other staff.
- One-year follow-up of seronegative HCWs to determine seroconversion rates.
- Examination of CMV seroconversion rates in HCWs with documented exposure to blood and body fluids.
Main Results:
- CMV seropositivity rates were consistently high across different HCW groups (doctors: 68.9%, nurses: 70.3%, others: 70.9%).
- The overall CMV seroconversion rate among seronegative HCWs followed for one year was 3.2%.
- HCWs exposed to blood and body fluids showed a similar CMV seroconversion rate of 2.8%.
Conclusions:
- Daily patient care activities appear to pose a low risk for Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection among healthcare workers (HCWs).
- The study suggests that occupational exposure to blood and body fluids does not significantly elevate CMV infection risk in HCWs.
- Further large-scale, well-designed studies are recommended to confirm these findings on CMV transmission in healthcare settings.
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