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Controlling Varicella in the Healthcare Setting: The Cost Effectiveness of Using Varicella Vaccine in Healthcare Workers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Mary D. Nettleman  and
Marlene Schmid
Mary D. Nettleman*
Affiliation:
Division of General Internal Medicine, Medical College of Virginia, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond Virginia
Marlene Schmid
Affiliation:
University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, Wisconsin. At the time of this writing, Dr. Nettleman was affiliated with the University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
*
Division of General Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical College of Virginia, 207 West Hospital, PO Box 980102, Richmond, VA 23298-0102
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Abstract

Objective:

To determine if varicella vaccination of healthcare workers would result in a net cost savings.

Design:

A Markov-based decision analysis.

Setting:

The analysis was based on a hypothetical population of healthcare workers. Data were obtained from exposure records of a tertiary-care hospital and from the literature. Workers were considered potentially susceptible if they had no past history of varicella.

Results:

Vaccination of potentially susceptible workers would result in a net cost savings of $59 per person. Serological testing prior to vaccination resulted in smaller net savings. The results were robust across a wide range of assumptions. Importantly, however, the result was very dependent on infection control policy regarding work restrictions for vaccine recipients. If more than 3% of vaccinees were removed from work due to vaccine-associated rash, vaccination no longer would result in a net cost savings.

Conclusion:

Varicella vaccination of potentially susceptible healthcare workers can reduce costs and decrease morbidity. Infection control policy regarding work restrictions for vaccine recipients will play a key role in the feasibility of vaccination.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 18 , Issue 7 , July 1997 , pp. 504 - 508
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1997

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