Hepatitis B outbreak associated with a home health care agency serving multiple assisted living facilities in Texas, 2008-2010

Am J Infect Control. 2014 Jan;42(1):77-81. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2013.06.016. Epub 2013 Oct 29.

Abstract

We investigated a multifacility outbreak of acute hepatitis B virus infection involving 21 residents across 10 assisted living facilities in Texas during the period January 2008 through July 2010. Epidemiologic and laboratory data suggested that these infections belonged to a single outbreak. The only common exposure was receipt of assisted monitoring of blood glucose from the same home health care agency. Improved infection control oversight and training of assisted living facility and home health care agency personnel providing assisted monitoring of blood glucose is needed.

Keywords: Blood glucose monitoring; Infection control; Patient safety.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Assisted Living Facilities*
  • Blood Chemical Analysis / adverse effects
  • Blood Chemical Analysis / methods
  • Blood Glucose / analysis
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Female
  • Hepatitis B / epidemiology*
  • Hepatitis B virus / isolation & purification*
  • Home Care Agencies*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Texas / epidemiology

Substances

  • Blood Glucose