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Nosocomial mumps: report of an outbreak and its control
P R Fischer1, C Brunetti, V Welch
1Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City 84132, USA.
Background:
Mumps is a relatively uncommon disease in the United States, and nosocomial transmission of mumps is rare.
Methods:
When a recently arrived Mexican immigrant became ill with mumps in a pediatric hospital in the United States, control measures and careful secondary case surveillance were instituted. Outbreak control included isolation of the patient with symptoms, seclusion of patients potentially incubating mumps virus, and immunization of susceptible patients and health care workers.
Results:
A 3-year-old patient showed symptoms of mumps 18 days after onset of illness in the index patient. Two employees, a physical therapist and a nurse, became ill with mumps 20 and 28 days after the onset of illness in the index patient. No other hospital or community cases of mumps were identified.
Conclusions:
Outbreak control measures were incompletely successful in stopping the spread of mumps. Preadmission immunization of all patients and mumps-specific screening and vaccination of hospital employees might be indicated in such a situation, but such measures are neither easy nor inexpensive.
Insights
Nosocomial mumps transmission is rare, but an outbreak occurred in a US pediatric hospital. Control measures were partially effective, leading to cases in a patient and two staff members.
Area of Science:
- Infectious Diseases
- Hospital Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Mumps is uncommon in the United States.
- Nosocomial (hospital-acquired) transmission of mumps is rare.
- An index case of mumps occurred in a recently arrived Mexican immigrant in a US pediatric hospital.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe the management and outcomes of a mumps outbreak in a pediatric hospital.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of control measures for nosocomial mumps transmission.
- To inform strategies for preventing future mumps outbreaks in healthcare settings.
Main Methods:
- Implemented outbreak control measures including patient isolation and seclusion.
- Conducted surveillance for secondary cases among patients and healthcare workers.
- Administered immunizations to susceptible patients and staff.
Main Results:
- A secondary case occurred in a 3-year-old patient 18 days after the index patient's symptom onset.
- Two hospital employees (a physical therapist and a nurse) contracted mumps 20 and 28 days after the index case.
- No other hospital or community cases were identified, indicating limited spread.
Conclusions:
- Outbreak control measures were not fully successful in preventing mumps spread.
- Consideration should be given to preadmission immunization screening for all patients.
- Mumps screening and vaccination of hospital employees may be warranted but present logistical and cost challenges.