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Epidemiology of Measles Immunity in a Population of Healthcare Workers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Mary Kim
Affiliation:
Department of Infection Control, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
Judith LaPointe
Affiliation:
Department of Infection Control, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
Francis J.G. Liu*
Affiliation:
Department of Infection Control, Kaiser Permanente Medical Center, Honolulu, Hawaii
*
Dept. of Infection Control, Kaiser Permanente Medical Ctc, 3288 Moanalua Rd., Honolulu, HI 96819

Abstract

Objective:

To evaluate epidemiologic factors that can be used to predict lack of measles immunity in healthcare workers.

Design:

During mandatory screening of employees for measles antibody, a questionnaire was used to collect demographic information.

Setting:

Inpatient hospital, acute care clinics, and skilled nursing facility of a health maintenance organization.

Participants:

Employees of all ages and occupations.

Results:

Measles immunity could not be predicted from history of measles disease and vaccination, gender, or birthplace. Of nonimmune employees, 63.7% were in the 20- to 29-year-old age group and 26.5% were in the 30-to 39-year-old age group.

Conclusions:

Age is the most clinically Significant predictor of measles antibody, especially in persons born after 1950, who make up a large group susceptible to measles.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1992

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