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Scabies Outbreak in an Intensive Care Unit with 1,659 Exposed Individuals—Key Factors for Controlling the Outbreak

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Manuela Buehlmann ,
Helmut Beltraminelli ,
Christoph Strub ,
Andreas Bircher ,
Xavier Jordan ,
Manuel Battegay ,
Peter Itin  and
Andreas F. Widmer
Manuela Buehlmann
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Basel, Switzerland
Helmut Beltraminelli
Affiliation:
Department of Dermatology, Basel, Switzerland
Christoph Strub
Affiliation:
Department of Dermatology, Basel, Switzerland
Andreas Bircher
Affiliation:
Department of Dermatology, Basel, Switzerland
Xavier Jordan
Affiliation:
University Hospital Basel, and Rehab Basel, Basel, Switzerland
Manuel Battegay
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Basel, Switzerland
Peter Itin
Affiliation:
Department of Dermatology, Basel, Switzerland
Andreas F. Widmer*
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Basel, Switzerland
*
Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, University Hospital Basel, Petersgraben 4, CH-4031 Basel, Switzerland (awidmer@uhbs.ch)
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Abstract

Objective.

To investigate a large outbreak of scabies in an intensive care unit of a university hospital and an affiliated rehabilitation center, and to establish effective control measures to prevent further transmission.

Design.

Outbreak investigation.

Setting.

The intensive care unit of a 750-bed university hospital and an affiliated 92-bed rehabilitation center.

Methods.

All exposed individuals were screened by a senior staff dermatologist. Scabies was diagnosed on the basis of (1) identification of mites by skin scraping, (2) identification of mites by dermoscopy, or (3) clinical examination of patients without history of prior treatment for typical burrows. During a follow-up period of 6 months, the attack rate was calculated as the number of symptomatic individuals divided by the total number of exposed individuals.

Interventions.

All exposed healthcare workers (HCWs) and their household members underwent preemptive treatment. Initially, the most effective registered drug in Switzerland (ie, topical lindane) was prescribed, but this prescribption was switched to topical permethrin or systemic ivermectin as a result of the progression of the outbreak. Individuals with any signs or symptoms of scabies underwent dermatological examination.

Results.

Within 7 months, 19 cases of scabies were diagnosed, 6 in children with a mean age of 3.1 years after exposure to the index patient with HIV and crusted scabies. A total of 1,640 exposed individuals underwent preemptive treatment. The highest attack rate of 26%–32% was observed among HCWs involved in the care of the index patient. A too-restricted definition of individuals at risk, non-compliance with treatment, and the limited effectiveness of lindane likely led to treatment failure, relapse, and reinfestation within families.

Conclusions.

Crusted scabies resulted in high attack rates among HCWs and household contacts. Timely institution of hygienic precautions with close monitoring and widespread, simultaneous scabicide treatment of all exposed individuals are essential for control of an outbreak.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 30 , Issue 4 , April 2009 , pp. 354 - 360
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2009

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