Management of a family outbreak of scabies with high risk of spread to other community and hospital facilities
- PMID: 29397231
- DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2017.12.004
Management of a family outbreak of scabies with high risk of spread to other community and hospital facilities
Abstract
Background: In developed countries, scabies is observed sporadically or as institutional outbreaks in hospitals and other health facilities. In the family context, outbreaks generally involve a limited number of cases.
Methods: A local health authority in Emilia-Romagna (Northern Italy) carried out an epidemiologic investigation on a family outbreak of scabies that included an unusually high number of cases. Its possible connection with a nosocomial case in a long-term care facility (LTCF) and outbreak management are discussed.
Results: Among the household members, 8 confirmed cases occurred (attack rate, 87.5%). Another case was reported in a patient of an LTCF where one of the family cases worked as a sociosanitary operator. In total, 244 contacts were placed under surveillance. The control strategy focused on a mass information campaign addressed to all contacts and the training of health care personnel. In addition, specific prophylaxis (permethrin 5%) was performed in 108 high-risk contacts and LTCF patients and staff.
Conclusions: The control measures were successful in preventing the spread of the outbreak. However, misdiagnosis and the tendency of people to hide the symptoms caused the late recognition and underestimation of the cases, contributing to delayed control measures and increasing the economic and human resources required for outbreak management.
Keywords: Scabies; epidemiologic investigation; hospital infections control; outbreak management.
Copyright © 2018 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
Comment in
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A neglected outbreak in a long-term care facility: Scabies.Am J Infect Control. 2019 Jul;47(7):853-854. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2019.01.025. Epub 2019 Mar 15. Am J Infect Control. 2019. PMID: 30879798 No abstract available.
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