Prevention of Health Care–Associated Measles Transmission in a Pediatric Clinic

Abstract

Abstract Objective Preventive measures in the setting of a suspected measles case in a hospital setting are important to stop the secondary spread. In this report, we evaluated the prevention attempts after two suspected cases of measles were reported in a pediatric clinic. Methods We evaluated prevention interventions including isolation, intravenous immunoglobulin, or measles–mumps–rubella (MMR) vaccine after two patients were diagnosed with maculopapular rash compatible with measles in the pediatric clinic. Results There were 50 patients (29 were outpatients, 21 were inpatients), 19 health care personnel (HCP), and 50 caregivers who were in contact with index cases. All of the HCP and 40 of the caregivers were immune to measles. Additional dose of MMR vaccine was recommended to five of the outpatients by phone. A total of 12 patients who were being followed up as inpatients (8 patients aged 6–12 months, 4 patients aged ≥ 12 months) were vaccinated with one dose of MMR vaccine. Only a 12-year-old male patient was admitted due to complaints suggesting measles after 14 days from discharge. It was learned that he had received a single dose of vaccine before so he was recommended an additional dose of MMR vaccine by the phone, but he did not go to the health institution on the day of the call. Conclusion Postexposure prophylaxis is effective to prevent measles transmission. Although young infants have the highest risk for transmission of measles in a health care–associated outbreak, adolescents and older children who are single vaccinated also have high risk for clinical measles.