Luis Urbiztondo

High-Risk Travel Abroad Overtook Low-Risk Travel from 1999 to 2004: Characterization and Trends in 2,622 Spanish Travelers

BACKGROUND Travel medicine in Spain is provided by a few specialized centers that do not come under the auspices of the main health system. Some kind of reform is required to avoid common summer collapses and postponements of the service. In contrast to other European countries, neither the exact role nor the responsibilities of general practitioners and primary health care in travel medicine are clearly defined. METHODS An observational study was performed with retrospective data concerning 2,622 travelers from 1999 to 2004. Although the study was performed at a third-level travel medicine center, continuous contact with and support to general practitioners was maintained throughout the period. RESULTS International travel was a steadily increasing reality between 1999 and 2004 despite well-known tragic events involving world safety. The number of high-risk travels (53.4%) also increased and even overtook low-risk ones (46.6%). This trend was explained as the result of an increasing number of journeys to sub-Saharan Africa (14.9%) and those made by traveling immigrants (64.1% of those journeys), which represented a significantly higher proportion of high-risk travels compared with those made by autochthonous subjects (52.1%; p < .001). Moreover, traveling immigrants tend to consult more frequently in periods < 15 days prior to travel than do autochthonous travelers (p < .0001). A substantial number of highly vulnerable travelers, such as pregnant women, infants, elderly people, and immunosuppressed subjects, was found (1.8%). Low-risk travelers who could have been advised and vaccinated by general practitioners were 1,139 (43.4%). CONCLUSIONS Given the increasing number of travelers undertaking high-risk travels abroad, any kind of reinforcement of travel medicine provision in Spain should be considered essential. General practitioners could attend to a significant proportion of low-risk travelers.

Seroprevalence study of B. pertussis infection in health care workers in Catalonia, Spain.

Pertussis is a re-emerging infection in countries with high infant immunization coverage. Healthcare workers (HCW) are exposed and can transmit the infection to especially-vulnerable patients. Therefore, pertussis vaccination of HCW is recommended. Between June 2008 and December 2010, 460 HCW from hospital and primary healthcare centers were recruited to determine susceptibility to pertussis. IgG antibodies against pertussis (anti-pertussis ab) were measured, using a routine technique that detects antibodies against pertussis including pertussis toxin (PT) and filamentous hemagglutinin (FHA). Positive results were confirmed with a more-specific technique that only assesses anti-PT IgG antibodies. The median age was 42 years (range, 21–65), 77.3% were female. 172 were nurses, 133 physicians, 60 other clinical workers and 95 non-clinical workers. None had received pertussis vaccination since childhood. The overall prevalence of anti-pertussis antibodies was 51.7%, (95% CI 47.1–56.4). Anti-PT antibodies were determined in the 220 HCW with positive anti-pertussis antibodies: 4 (1.8%) were negative and 33 (15%) had a high titer (≥ 45 IU/mL). No significant differences between the prevalence of anti-pertussis antibodies or anti-TP antibodies were found according to age, type of occupation or type of center. Our study confirms the need for vaccination of HCW because at least half are susceptible to pertussis. High anti-PT titers found in 15% of seropositive HCW showed that they had had recent contact with B. pertussis.

Are healthcare workers immune to rubella

Healthcare workers (HCW) have high exposure to infectious diseases, some of which, such as rubella, are vaccine-preventable. The aim of this study was to determine the immunity of HCW against rubella. We performed a seroprevalence study using a self-administered survey and obtained blood samples to determine rubella Immunoglobulin G (IgG) antibody levels in HCW during preventive examinations by five Primary Care Basic Prevention Units and six tertiary hospitals in Catalonia. Informed consent was obtained. IgG was determined using an antibody capture microparticle direct chemiluminometric technique. The odss ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Logistic regression was made to calculate adjusted OR. Of 642 HCW who participated (29.9% physician, 38.8% nurses, 13.3% other health workers and 18% non-health workers), 46.6% were primary care workers and 53.4% hospital workers. Of total, 97.2% had rubella antibodies. HCW aged 30–44 years had a higher prevalence of antibodies (98.4%) compared with HCW aged <30 years (adjusted OR 3.92; 95% CI 1.04–14.85). The prevalence was higher in nurses than in other HCW (adjusted OR: 5.57, 95% CI 1.21–25.59). Antibody prevalence did not differ between females and males (97.4% vs. 97.1%, P 0.89), type of center (97.7% vs. 96.8%, P 0.51) or according to history of vaccination (97.3% vs. 96.8%, P 0.82). Seroprevalence of rubella antibodies is high in HCW, but workers aged <30 years have a higher susceptibility (5.5%). Vaccination should be reinforced in HCW in this age group, due to the risk of nosocomial transmission and congenital rubella.

Prevalence of measles antibodies among health care workers in Catalonia (Spain) in the elimination era

BackgroundInterruption of measles transmission was achieved in Catalonia (Spain) in 2000. Six years later, a measles outbreak occurred between August 2006 and June 2007 with 381 cases, 11 of whom were health care workers (HCW).The objective was to estimate susceptibility to measles in HCW and related demographic and occupational characteristics.MethodsA measles seroprevalence study was carried out in 639 HCW from six public tertiary hospitals and five primary healthcare areas. Antibodies were tested using the Vircell Measles ELISA IgG Kit. Data were analyzed according to age, sex, type of HCW, type of centre and vaccination history.The odds ratios (OR) and their 95% CI were calculated to determine the variables associated with antibody prevalence. OR were adjusted using logistic regression.Positive predictive values (PPV) and the 95% confidence intervals (CI) of having two documented doses of a measles containing vaccine (MCV) for the presence of measles antibodies and of reporting a history of measles infection were calculated.ResultsThe prevalence of measles antibodies in HCW was 98% (95% CI 96.6-98.9), and was lower in HCW born in 1981 or later, after the introduction of systematic paediatric vaccination (94.4%; 95% CI 86.4-98.5) and higher in HCW born between 1965 and 1980 (99.0%; 95% CI 97.0-99.8). Significant differences were found for HCW born in 1965–1980 with respect to those born in 1981 and after (adjusted OR of 5.67; 95% CI: 1.24-25.91).A total of 187 HCW reported being vaccinated: the proportion of vaccinated HCW decreased with age. Of HCW who reported being vaccinated, vaccination was confirmed by the vaccination card in 49%. Vaccination with 2 doses was documented in only 50 HCW, of whom 48 had measles antibodies. 311 HCW reported a history of measles.The PPV of having received two documented doses of MCV was 96% (95% CI 86.3-99.5) and the PPV of reporting a history of measles was 98.7% (95% CI 96.7-99.6).ConclusionsScreening to detect HCW who lack presumptive evidence of immunity and vaccination with two doses of vaccine should be reinforced, especially in young workers, to minimize the risk of contracting measles and infecting the susceptible patients they care for.

Varicella-zoster virus immunity among health care workers in Catalonia

OBJECTIVE To determine varicella-zoster virus (VZV) immunity among healthcare workers (HCWs). Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS HCWs attending voluntary periodic health examinations between June 2008 and December 2010. SETTING Six public hospitals and five primary care areas in Catalonia, Spain. METHODS A self-administered questionnaire was given to eligible HCWs. Variables including age, sex, professional category, type of centre, history of varicella infection, and VZV vaccination were collected. The study was carried out using a convenience sample. The prevalence of antibodies and positive and negative predictive values (PPV and NPV) of the history of clinical VZV infection or vaccination were calculated. Crude and adjusted odds ratios (OR and ORa) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to determine the variables associated with antibody prevalence. RESULTS Of 705 HCWs who agreed to participate, 644 were finally included. The overall prevalence of antibodies to varicella was 94.9% (95% CI: 92.9-96.4). Of the variables studied, only age was associated with serological susceptibility to VZV. HCWs aged 25-35 years had the highest serological susceptibility (8.1%, 95% CI: 4.6-13.0). The prevalence of antibodies was 96% in subjects reporting previous VZV infection or vaccination, compared with 93% in subjects who did not report these states or did not know. CONCLUSIONS The high proportion of serologically-susceptible HCWs found in this study indicates the need to develop for screening and vaccination strategies in Catalonia. Due to the high capacity of propagation of the VZV in health settings and its consequences, VZV vaccination programmes in HCWs should be reinforced.

Serological survey of mumps immunity among health care workers in the Catalonia region of Spain

Susceptible health care workers are at risk of acquiring and transmitting mumps to or from patients. A survey was carried out in 639 health care workers from tertiary public hospitals and primary care centers in the Catalonia region of Spain during 2009 to determine the prevalence of immunity to mumps among this group. The prevalence of immune health care workers was 87.5% (95% confidence interval, 84.7-89.9). Vaccination with 2 doses of vaccine should be reinforced in health care workers to minimize the risk of mumps transmission in health care settings.

Prevalence of susceptibility to tetanus and diphtheria in health care workers in Catalonia

A seroprevalence study of tetanus and diphtheria was carried out in a sample of 537 health care workers in Catalonia. The prevalence of protective antibodies against tetanus was 93.9% (95% confidence interval: 91.5-95.7). The prevalence of protective antibodies against diphtheria was 46.4% (95% confidence interval: 42.1-50.7). Tetanus protection should be improved in health care workers born before 1975. The immune status against diphtheria was poor, with less than half of people born before 1975 correctly immunized.

Serological survey of hepatitis B immunity in healthcare workers in Catalonia (Spain)

ABSTRACT Healthcare workers (HCW) are exposed to preventable infectious diseases, notably hepatitis B (HB). The aim of this study was to determine the immunity of HCW against hepatitis B. We made a seroprevalence study using a self-administered survey and obtained blood samples. Antibodies against the HB surface antigen (anti-HBs) and against the HB core antigen (anti-HBc) were studied. The odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. The adjusted OR were calculated using logistic regression. Of the 644 HCW who participated (29.7% physicians, 38.7% nurses, 13.4% other clinical workers and 18.3% non-clinical workers), 46.4% were primary care workers and 53.6% hospital workers. The overall prevalence of anti-HBs was 64.4%. HCW aged <25 y had a significantly higher prevalence (86.7%) than those aged 35–44 y (adjusted OR 3.40; 95% CI 1.06–10.90). The prevalence of anti-HBc was 4.1%, and increased with age. Significant differences were found for HCW aged >44 y with respect to those aged 25–34 y. 75.6% of HCW stated they were vaccinated, but only 39.3% had a vaccination card. In HCW who stated they were unvaccinated, 10.8% had a vaccinated serological pattern (anti-HBc-negative and anti-HBs -positive). Written, updated vaccination records are essential to reliably determine the vaccination status.