Occupational risk for cytomegalovirus, but not for parvovirus B19 in child-care personnel in France

Abstract

Background: Studies assessing the risk of cytomegalovirus (CMV), parvovirus B19 (B19V), rubella and varicella infections in female child-care personnel may help define appropriate preventive strategies during pregnancy.

Methods: Serologic testing for all four viruses and a self-administered questionnaire to identify risk factors were conducted on child-care staff aged 20-50 years old and on a reference group of women.

Results: In 395 exposed and 382 reference women, CMV, B19V, rubella and varicella seroprevalence were 69.4, 79.4, 98.7, 100% for exposed women, and 41.1, 68.0, 98.2, 99.7% for reference women, respectively. For CMV, the adjusted seroprevalence ratio (PR) of exposed versus reference workers, (PR, 1.43 [95% IC, 1.22-1.69]) was observed as of the first year of exposure. The risk attributed to occupation was 30.1%. Identified risk factors included exposure duration, past employment in maternity hospital, and participation in cleaning tasks. The risk attributable to personal factors ranged from 14.5% to 32.4%. The adjusted B19V PR was not significant (PR, 1.05 [95% IC, 0.94-1.16]).

Conclusions: French female child-care staff runs an occupational risk for CMV infection, but not for B19V infection. The fraction attributable to this CMV occupational risk was not higher than the risk associated with personal factors.