Occupational risk of human parvovirus B19 infection for school and day-care personnel during an outbreak of erythema infectiosum

JAMA. 1990 Apr 18;263(15):2061-5.

Abstract

Human parvovirus B19, the cause of erythema infectiosum, has recently been associated with adverse fetal outcomes. During a large outbreak of erythema infectiosum in Connecticut, a survey was conducted on 571 (90%) of 634 school and day-care personnel to determine the risk of acquiring B19 infection. Serologic evidence of B19 infection was determined by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Of the school and day-care personnel, 58% had evidence of previous B19 infection. The minimal rate of B19 infection in susceptible personnel during the outbreak was 19%. The risk was increased for teachers and day-care providers who had contact with younger children and with greater numbers of ill children. These results suggest that B19 infection is an occupational risk for school and day-care personnel.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child Day Care Centers*
  • Connecticut / epidemiology
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Erythema / epidemiology
  • Erythema / etiology*
  • Erythema / immunology
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Immunoglobulin G / analysis
  • Immunoglobulin M / analysis
  • Occupational Diseases / etiology*
  • Occupational Diseases / immunology
  • Parvoviridae Infections / epidemiology
  • Parvoviridae Infections / etiology*
  • Parvoviridae Infections / immunology
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / etiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / immunology
  • Pregnancy Outcome
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Schools*

Substances

  • Immunoglobulin G
  • Immunoglobulin M