A cohort study of health care workers to assess nosocomial transmissibility of Nipah virus, Malaysia, 1999

J Infect Dis. 2001 Mar 1;183(5):810-3. doi: 10.1086/318822. Epub 2001 Jan 24.

Abstract

During 1998-1999, an outbreak of Nipah virus encephalitis occurred in Malaysia. To assess the possibility of nosocomial transmission, 338 health care workers (HCWs) exposed and 288 HCWs unexposed to outbreak-related patients were surveyed, and their serum samples were tested for anti-Nipah virus antibody. Needlestick injuries were reported by 12 (3%) HCWs, mucosal surface exposure to body fluids by 39 (11%), and skin exposure to body fluids by 89 (25%). No encephalitis occurred in either group. Three exposed and no unexposed HCWs tested positive by EIA for IgG antibodies. It is likely that these 3 were false positives; no IgM response occurred, and the serum samples were negative for anti-Nipah virus neutralizing antibodies. The risk of nosocomial transmission of Nipah virus appears to be low; however, given the high case-fatality rate and the presence of virus in respiratory secretions and urine of some patients, standard and droplet infection-control practices should be maintained with these patients.

MeSH terms

  • Antibodies, Viral / analysis*
  • Cohort Studies
  • Cross Infection / transmission*
  • Cross Infection / virology
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • False Positive Reactions
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoenzyme Techniques
  • Immunoglobulin G / blood
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional
  • Malaysia
  • Male
  • Paramyxoviridae Infections / transmission*
  • Paramyxovirinae / immunology
  • Paramyxovirinae / isolation & purification*
  • Risk Factors
  • Surveys and Questionnaires

Substances

  • Antibodies, Viral
  • Immunoglobulin G