Probable Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus transmission occurred after aerosol-generating medical procedures in Russia: nosocomial cluster

Natalia Yurievna Pshenichnaya; Svetlana Alexeevna Nenadskaya

doi:10.1016/j.ijid.2014.12.047

Probable Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever virus transmission occurred after aerosol-generating medical procedures in Russia: nosocomial cluster

Int J Infect Dis. 2015 Apr:33:120-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ijid.2014.12.047. Epub 2015 Jan 7.

Authors

Natalia Yurievna Pshenichnaya¹, Svetlana Alexeevna Nenadskaya²

Affiliations

¹ Rostov State Medical University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia. Electronic address: pshenichnaya.natalia@gmail.com.
² Rostov State Medical University, Rostov-on-Don, Russia.

PMID: 25576827
DOI: 10.1016/j.ijid.2014.12.047

Abstract

We report here a fatal case of laboratory confirmed Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever (CCHF), which caused nosocomial infection in eight health care workers (HCWs), who had provided medical care for the patient. All the HCWs survived. The report demonstrates that airborne transmission of CCHF is a real risk, at least when the CCHF patient is in a ventilator. During performance of any aerosol-generating medical procedures for any CCHF patient airborne precautions should always be added to standard precautions, in particular, airway protective N95 mask or equivalent standard, eye protection, single airborne precaution room, or a well-ventilated setting.

Keywords: Crimean-Congo hemorrhagic fever; airborne transmission; nosocomial cluster.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Aerosols
Cross Infection / drug therapy
Cross Infection / transmission*
Cross Infection / virology
Fatal Outcome
Female
Health Personnel
Hemorrhagic Fever Virus, Crimean-Congo*
Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean / drug therapy
Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean / transmission*
Hemorrhagic Fever, Crimean / virology
Humans
Infection Control / methods*
Pregnancy
Probability
Russia
Ventilators, Mechanical
Young Adult

Substances

Aerosols