Risk of transmission of vaccine-preventable diseases in healthcare settings

Abstract

The transmission of infectious agents within healthcare settings is a priority public health problem. Although the main burden of healthcare-associated infections is commonly caused by Gram-negative bacteria and fungi, vaccine-preventable diseases represent an additional infectious risk for patients attending healthcare facilities. Hepatitis B, rotavirus gastroenteritis, influenza, measles, pertussis and pneumococcal and meningococcal invasive bacterial infections still represent a threat, notwithstanding the presence of universal vaccination programs. For this reason, healthcare worker immunization is an important strategy to limit the risk of vaccine-preventable diseases in such a fragile population.

Keywords: healthcare-associated infection; outbreak; vaccine-preventable disease.