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Preventing Healthcare Workers From Acquiring Influenza

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Tak Ching Ng
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, and the Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
Nelson Lee*
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, and the Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
Shu-Cheong David Hui
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, and the Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
Raymond Lai
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, and the Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
Margaret Ip
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Prince of Wales Hospital, and the Centre for Emerging Infectious Diseases, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin, Hong Kong
*
Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine and Therapeutics, Prince of Wales Hospital, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, 9/F Clinical Sciences Building, Shatin, Hong Kong (leelsn@cuhk.edu.hk)

Abstract

Our survey of 133 on-duty medical ward nurses showed that, during peak influenza season, 30 (23%) developed an influenza-like illness, despite wearing a mask at work. Suboptimal adherence to standard precautions, such as the use of a face shield (odds ratio, 3.56) during high-risk procedures, and failure to receive influenza vaccination (odds ratio, 4.82) were independent risk factors, adjusted for household contacts.

Type
Concise Communications
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2009

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