Volume 24, Number 6—June 2018
Synopsis
Absence of Nosocomial Transmission of Imported Lassa Fever during Use of Standard Barrier Nursing Methods
Anna Grahn
, Andreas Bråve, Thomas Tolfvenstam, and Marie Studahl
, Andreas Bråve, Thomas Tolfvenstam, and Marie Studahl
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.
Page created: May 17, 2018
Page updated: May 17, 2018
Page reviewed: May 17, 2018
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