Nosocomial scabies

• Published in: The Journal of hospital infection Vol. 65; no. 1; pp. 9 - 14
• Main Authors: Vorou, R, Remoudaki, H.D, Maltezou, H.C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kent Elsevier Ltd 01.01.2007; Elsevier
• Subjects: Aged; Biological and medical sciences; Cross Infection - drug therapy; Cross Infection - epidemiology; Cross Infection - parasitology; Cross Infection - transmission; Diagnosis, Differential; Disease Outbreaks - economics; Disease Outbreaks - prevention & control; Epidemics; General aspects; Hospital-acquired; Human infectious diseases. Experimental studies and models; Human parasitic diseases due to arthropods; Humans; Immunocompromised Host; Immunodeficiencies; Immunodeficiencies. Immunoglobulinopathies; Immunopathology; Infection Control - methods; Infectious Disease; Infectious diseases; Medical sciences; Nosocomial; Outbreak; Parasitic diseases; Risk Factors; Scabies; Scabies - drug therapy; Scabies - epidemiology; Scabies - prevention & control; Scabies - transmission; Epidemics; Outbreak; Scabies; Nosocomial; Hospital-acquired; Epidemic; Immunopathology; Nosocomial infection; Skin disease; Parasitosis; Immune deficiency; Infection; Treatment; Norwegian scabies; Public health
• ISSN: 0195-6701; 1532-2939
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2006.08.012

Summary Scabies is a parasitic dermatosis with a worldwide distribution. This infestation affects millions of people annually and may cause large nosocomial outbreaks with considerable morbidity among patients and healthcare workers. Immunocompromised or elderly institutionalized patients admitted with unrecognized crusted scabies are the main source of nosocomial transmission. Factors that facilitate the development of hospital-acquired scabies and nosocomial epidemics are: poor knowledge of scabies epidemiology, unfamiliarity of healthcare workers with atypical presentations, long incubation period, diagnostic delay and incomplete monitoring. Within hospitals, containment of an outbreak relies on the strict implementation of appropriate infection control measures and treatment administration to contacts. It is associated with a considerable working and economic burden.