Infection Control among Healthcare Workers and Management of a Scabies Outbreak in a Large Italian University Hospital
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Published:2023-06-02
Issue:11
Volume:12
Page:3830
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ISSN:2077-0383
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Container-title:Journal of Clinical Medicine
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language:en
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Short-container-title:JCM
Author:
Sponselli Stefania1ORCID, De Maria Luigi1ORCID, Caputi Antonio1ORCID, Stefanizzi Pasquale1ORCID, Bianchi Francesco Paolo1ORCID, Delvecchio Giuseppe1ORCID, Foti Caterina2, Romita Paolo2, Ambrogio Francesca2, Zagaria Silvia1, Giannelli Gianmarco1ORCID, Tafuri Silvio1ORCID, Vimercati Luigi1ORCID
Affiliation:
1. Interdisciplinary Department of Medicine, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy 2. Department of Biomedical Science and Human Oncology, University of Bari, 70124 Bari, Italy
Abstract
This retrospective observational study describes the results of an ad-hoc designated prevention protocol aimed at containing the spread of the scabies infestation among healthcare workers (HCWs) of a large University Hospital in Italy. The outbreak started on October 2022 and a preventive protocol was set up thanks to a multidisciplinary approach. HCWs at high scabies risk were defined as subjects working in Operative Units with a scabies prevalence higher than 2%, close contacts of a confirmed case of scabies, or HCWs with signs and symptoms of the disease. All cases at high scabies risk underwent a dermatological examination, and the infested HCWs were suspended from work until definitive healing. Mass drug administration was established for all HCWs working in Operative Units with a scabies prevalence higher than 2%. Until March 2023, out of 183 screening dermatological examinations, 21 (11.5%) were diagnostic for scabies. Between 11 October 2022 (date of the first diagnosed scabies case) and 6 March 2023 (the end of incubation period related to the last case detected), the frequency of scabies was 0.35% (21 scabies cases/6000 HCWs). The duration of the outbreak in our hospital was 14.7 weeks. Statistical analysis shows a significant association between scabies and being a nurse and having an allergy to dust mites. We obtained a low frequency of scabies infection, limiting the duration of the outbreak and the related economic burden.
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