Abstract
The healthcare-associated infection control of a case of chickenpox in a hospital physician occurred in our hospital. He was admitted to a negative pressure room, and treated with drip infusion of acyclovir. After discharge he was confined to his house until all eruptions became crusta. One hundred sixteen staff members and 44 inpatients in our hospital thought to have had contact with him were examined using IgG antibody titer of the chickenpox virus. Planned surgery was postponed until the results were available. Two staff and 2 patients proved positive (cutoff value was 4.0). The 2 patients were isolated after explanation of the results to them and their families. The 2 staff were made to stay in their houses from the day of the results until 21 days after contact. All were treated with acyclovir 40 mg/kg/day for 7 days to prevent onset. Furthermore, we explained the circumstances by telephone to patients who had already left the hospital and outpatients, and asked them to come our hospital if they recognized high fever and eruptions. Fortunately, no one including the 4 positive individuals developed secondary infection. The present case suggests that all staff should be examined with the antibody titer of any virus, and sensitive staff should receive vaccination. Moreover, the awareness of all staff to viral infection should be increased.
