Of the 313 healthcare workers with contact to 55 patients who suffered from monkeypox virus infections, not a single person has been infected – despite inadequate safety measures. This is shown by new US data-_ 12.
For the current study, the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) collected information from health care workers who lived between June 1.He had come into contact with patients with monkeypox. Employees who had treated patients who had been within a maximum radius of two meters from them or who had come into contact with their laundry were recorded. 20 people had a high risk, 67 a medium risk and 226 a low or uncertain risk.
Every 5th employee has adequately protected himself
Only 23% of employees complied with Recommendations of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for personal protective equipment when handling monkeypox patients. These include a gown, gloves, eye protection and an N95 or higher mask.
Depending on the field of activity, there were clear differences.Only 4% of primary or emergency care staff followed the CDC recommendations, while about one in 2 employees in community health facilities or clinics for sexually transmitted infections followed the recommendations.
Overall, 38% of employees wore an N95 mask, 64% gloves, 40% a gown, and 31% wore eye protection.
People at high or moderate risk were offered prophylactic vaccination with the JYNNEOS® vaccine and followed up for 21 days. Only 43% of 87 people received vaccinations against the virus.
Low risk awareness
The authors explained that the lack of awareness among physicians and other healthcare workers may have contributed to a lack of awareness of potential dangers. They see information deficits in several areas:
- What typical and atypical symptoms do patients have at first contact?
- What recommendations on personal protective equipment have the CDC published?
In the article, the authors also point out that employees in health departments and clinics would have better protected themselves for sexually transmitted infections.There is probably a higher risk awareness here.
This article originally appeared on Medscape.de.
This full text is unfortunately reserved for medical professionals
You have reached the maximum number of articles for unregistered visitors
Source — https://www.univadis.de/viewarticle/mitarbeiter-im-gesundheitswesen-selten-infektion-mit-affenpocken