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CRIMEAN-CONGO HEMORRHAGIC FEVER AMONG HEALTH CARE WORKERS IN IRAN: A SEROPREVALENCE STUDY IN TWO ENDEMIC REGIONS

Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF) has repeatedly caused nosocomial outbreaks among hospital staff. In the summer of 2003, we studied the seroprevalence of anti-CCHF IgG among health care workers who had come in contact with Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever patients from three referral hospitals in endemic regions of Iran. A total of 223 eligible staff were examined. Whereas 5 of 129 (3.87%) exposed health care workers tested positive, none of the 94 in the unexposed group did (P = 0.075). Seropositivity was more frequent among those whose intact skin had come in contact with nonsanguineous body fluids (9.52%) and those who had had percutaneous contacts (7.14%). Health care workers exposed to Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever patients, those who live in Systan-Baluchestan province, and older health care workers were more prone to seropositivity. Where introduction of high-risk modes of contact cannot be confined, we propose that health care workers take all the protective measures when handling Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever patients, particularly their blood and other body fluids.

Received July 25, 2006. Accepted for publication December 7, 2006.

Acknowledgments: This study was partially supported by a grant from the Faculty of Medicine, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran. The American Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (ASTMH) assisted with publication expenses.

^* Address correspondence to Mohammad Rahnavardi, Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Velenjak, Chamran Highway, Tehran, Iran. E-mail: rahnavardi{at}gmail.com

Authors’ addresses: M. Mardani, M. Rahnavardi, and M. Rajaeinejad, M. Rostami, and M. Hashemi Shahri, Infectious Disease and Tropical Medicine Research Center, Shaheed Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Velenjak, Chamran Highway Tehran, Iran, Telephone: +98-21-2242-4206 and +98-21-2242-4205, Fax: +98-21-8895-1402. K. Holakoui Naini, F. Pourmalek, Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health and Institute of Health Research, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Poursina St., Keshavarz Blvd., Tehran, Iran. Telephone & Fax: +98-21-889-51-402. S. Chinikar, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Pasteur Ave., Tehran, Iran. Telephone: +98-21-6640-4007, Fax: +98-21-6646-5132.

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				M. Mardani, M. Keshtkar-Jahromi, B. Ataie, and P. Adibi Crimean-Congo Hemorrhagic Fever Virus as a Nosocomial Pathogen in Iran Am J Trop Med Hyg, October 1, 2009; 81(4): 675 - 678. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]