Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-sh8wx Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-19T05:53:13.275Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Problem of Herpetic Whitlow Among Hospital Personnel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  31 March 2016

Wayne L. Greaves ,
Allen B. Kaiser ,
Robert H. Alford  and
William Schaffner
Wayne L. Greaves
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, St. Thomas Hospital; the Division of infectious Diseases, Nashville Veterans Administration Hospital; and the Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
Allen B. Kaiser*
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, St. Thomas Hospital; the Division of infectious Diseases, Nashville Veterans Administration Hospital; and the Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
Robert H. Alford
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, St. Thomas Hospital; the Division of infectious Diseases, Nashville Veterans Administration Hospital; and the Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
William Schaffner
Affiliation:
Division of Infectious Diseases, St. Thomas Hospital; the Division of infectious Diseases, Nashville Veterans Administration Hospital; and the Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee
*
St. Thomas Hospital, P.O. Box 3S0, Nashville, TN 37202
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Five cases of nosocomially acquired herpetic whitlow are presented; three cases developed following a common exposure. All infections were acquired despite the use of surgical gloves as recommended by existing guidelines on control of nosocomial infection. In two cases the mistaken diagnosis of pyogenic paronychia led to surgical intervention, with excessive morbidity and disability. Among the five cases, morbidity ranged from several days of unemployment to permanent sequelae necessitating a career change. Revised guidelines for infection control should include the use of gloves on both hands whenever patient care involves contact with a debilitated patient with herpes simplex labialis.

Type
Original-Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 1 , Issue 6 , 11/12 1980 , pp. 381 - 385
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1980

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Rosato, FE. Rosato, CF. Plotkin, SA. Herpetic paronychia—An occupational hazard of medical personnel. N Engl J Med 1970; 283:804–805.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
2.Hambrick, GW. Cox, RP. Senior, JR. Primary herpes simplex infection of the fingers of medical personnel. Arch Dermatol 1962; 85:583–589.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Knyvett, AF. Herpetic whitlow. Med J Aust 1966: 2:601–603.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Stern, H. Elek, SD, Millar, DMet al. Herpetic whitlow, a form of cross infection in hospitals. Lancet 1959: 2:871–874.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
5.Gavelin, GE. Knight, CR. Herpes simplex infection of the finger. Can Med Assoc 1965; 93:366–367.Google ScholarPubMed
6.Orkin, FK. Herpetic whitlow: Occupational hazard to the anesthesiologist. Anesthesiology 1970; 33:671–673.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
7.Miller, JB. Herpes simplex virus infection of the fingers of a dentist. J Dent Child 1976; 43:99–102.Google ScholarPubMed
8.Tee-Chang, T, Gorbach, SI. Primary and recurrent herpetic whitlow. Int J Dermatol 1977; 16:752–754.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9.Nahmias, AJ. Roizman, B. Infection with herpes simplex virus types 1 and 2. N Engl J Med 1973; 289:667-674, 719-725. 781–789.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
10.Crane, LR, Lerner, AM. Herpetic whitlow: a manifestation of primary infection with herpes simplex virus type 1 or 2. J Infect Dis 1978: 137:855–856.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11.Orkin, FK. Herpetic whitlow. N Engl J Med 1975: 292:648–649.Google ScholarPubMed
12.Jackson, MM, Emerson, SC. Paronychial infections of nurses in clinical practice. APIC Journal 1979; 7:16–19.Google ScholarPubMed
13.Parry, MF. Hutchinson, JH, Brown, NAet al. Gram negative sepsis in neonates. Pediatrics 1970; 65:1105–1109.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14.Giacobetti, R. Herpetic whitlow. Int J Dermatol 1979: 18:55–58.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.LaRossa, D. Hamilton, R. Herpes simplex infections of the digits. Ann Surg 1971; 102:600–603.Google ScholarPubMed
16.Haburchak, DR. Recurrent herpetic whitlow due to herpes simplex virus type 2. Arch Intern Med 1978; 138.1418–1419.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17.Hamory, BH. Osterman, CA. Wenzel, RP. Herpetic whitlow. N Engl J Med 1975; 292:258.Google ScholarPubMed