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Volume 24, Number 6—June 2018
Synopsis

Absence of Nosocomial Transmission of Imported Lassa Fever during Use of Standard Barrier Nursing Methods

Anna GrahnComments to Author , Andreas Bråve, Thomas Tolfvenstam, and Marie Studahl
Author affiliations: University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden (A. Grahn, M. Studahl); Public Health Agency of Sweden, Solna, Sweden (A. Bråve); Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden (T. Tolfvenstam)

Main Article

Table 1

Level of risk related to exposure to a patient with Lassa fever and action, by category*

Risk category Description Action
No risk (category 1)
No contact with the case-patient; casual contact with the case-patient (e.g., sharing room without direct contact with any potentially infectious material)
Inform of absence of risk; give category 1 (general) fact sheet
Low risk (category 2)
Close direct contact with the case-patient (e.g., general routine medical/nursing care, handling of clinical/laboratory specimens), but did not handle body fluids or wore personal protective equipment appropriately
Self monitor† for fever and other symptoms compatible with Lassa fever; report to the safety officer nurse if fever >38°C or new somatic symptoms, with further evaluation as necessary; give category 2 fact sheet
High risk† (category 3) Unprotected exposure of damaged skin or mucous membranes (e.g., mucosal exposure to splashes, needlestick injury) to potentially infectious blood or body fluids; or unprotected handling of clinical laboratory specimens Report own temperature daily‡ and report this temperature and any new somatic symptoms to the safety officer nurse every day, with further evaluation as necessary; give category 3 fact sheet

*Adapted from Kitching et al. (11).
†Consideration for ribavirin prophylaxis within this group.
‡Contacts to be monitored for 21 d from last possible exposure to the case-patient.

Main Article

Page created: May 17, 2018
Page updated: May 17, 2018
Page reviewed: May 17, 2018
The conclusions, findings, and opinions expressed by authors contributing to this journal do not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the Public Health Service, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, or the authors' affiliated institutions. Use of trade names is for identification only and does not imply endorsement by any of the groups named above.
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