Rubella immune status among healthcare workers in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of a regional hospital in Hong Kong: the need for a vaccination policy

Abstract

Rubella infection in early pregnancy is associated with severe consequences in the developing fetus. In Hong Kong, 8-11% of women of child-bearing age are still susceptible to rubella infection. Therefore, rubella immune status of healthcare workers who may have contact with pregnant women is of particular concern. Rubella immunity of healthcare workers in a Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology was analysed. In the one and a half years of study, 134 healthcare workers voluntarily submitted blood samples for immunity determination and 16.4% of them were susceptible to rubella infection. A substantial proportion of healthcare workers of childbearing age (14%) was negative for rubella antibody. Susceptible healthcare workers have a risk of acquiring and subsequently transmitting the potentially teratogenic rubella infection to their patients. There is a need to review the rubella immunization policy for healthcare workers in Hong Kong.