Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection rate in personnel caring for children with RSV infections. Routine isolation procedure vs routine procedure supplemented by use of masks and goggles
R. Agah, J. D. Cherry, A. J. Garakian and M. Chapin
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infections in hospitalized children were
identified by indirect fluorescent antibody technique. Patients with RSV
infections were assigned to one of two isolation categories. In one
category, the health care workers entering the child's room did not wear
masks and goggles; in the other category, the workers did wear masks and
goggles. The RSV illness rate in health care workers using masks and
goggles was 5%, but the rate for those not using masks and goggles was 61%.
In the no mask/goggles group, the RSV illness rates in the health care
workers correlated directly with the number of exposures. In this modest
study, the use of masks and goggles was associated with a significant
reduction of RSV illnesses in pediatric health care workers.
