Lassa Fever Infection among Healthcare Workers during the 2018 Outbreak in Nigeria

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v13i3.44269

Keywords:

Healthcare workers, Lassa fever infection, Nigeria, Preventable calamity, 2018 outbreak

Abstract

Introduction: Healthcare workers (HCWs) are potentially exposed to infection during viral hemorrhagic fever outbreaks. In the wake of 2018, Nigeria experienced an unprecedented surge in cases of Lassa fever (LF), which affected HCWs. To guide infection prevention and control (IPC) strategies in similar settings, we characterize HCWs' infection and describe the gaps in IPC standards and practices during the outbreak.

Methods: Data was collected using a structured questionnaire, interview, and review of case notes of 21 HCW with laboratory-confirmed Lassa fever who were treated at the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital (ISTH) Irrua and the Alex-Ekwemen Federal Teaching Hospital, Abakaliki (AEFETHA), between 1st January and 27th May 2018. Information collected was the patients' socio-demographic characteristics, date of potential exposure and onset of illness, nature, and type of exposure, clinical features, outcome, use of personal protective equipment (PPE), and personnel IPC training and were analyzed using descriptive statistics with Microsoft Excel.

Results: The study included 21 HCWs, and 12 (57.14%) were doctors. The case fatality rate was 23%. Nearly two-thirds (62%) of the HCWs could describe a likely procedure leading to their exposure and infection. Among 13 HCWs, 85% had multiple blood and body fluids exposure, while 15% had needle stick injury or scalpel cut. About one-fifth of the participants had received some IPC training.

Conclusion: Limited IPC adherence and inappropriate risk assessment were identified as factors leading to Lassa fever exposure and infection among HCWs. There is an urgent need to provide IPC training for all HCWs and to ensure an adequate supply of IPC materials to all healthcare facilities as part of emergency preparedness, especially in LF endemic areas.

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Author Biographies

Ephraim Ogbaini-Emovon, Institute of Lassa fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Institute of Lassa fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
E-mail: epogbaini@yahoo.com

Francis Erah, Department of Community Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Department of Community Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
E-mail: efrancozenith@yahoo.com

Emmanuel Friday Osagiede, Department of Community Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria Department of Community Medicine, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, Nigeria.

(Corresponding author)

Department of Community Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Irrua, Nigeria/ Department of Community Medicine, Niger Delta University Teaching Hospital, Okolobiri, Nigeria.
E-mail: drosagiedeef@gmail.com

Chinelo Juliana Nnadi, Department of Community Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Department of Community Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
E-mail: chineloan@gmail.com

Yemihan Ogbetere, Department of Community Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Department of Community Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
E-mail: yemihanogbetere@yahoo.com

Ekaete A. Tobin, Institute of Lassa fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Institute of Lassa fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
E-mail: ekaete.tobin@gmail.com

Danny Asogun, Department of Community Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Department of Community Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
E-mail: asogun2001@yahoo.com

Martha Okonofua, Institute of Lassa fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Institute of Lassa fever Research and Control, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
E-mail: mataose@yahoo.com

George Akpede, Department of Paediatrics, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Department of Paediatrics, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
E-mail: georgeakpede@yahoo.co.uk

Peter Akhideno, Department of Internal Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Department of Internal Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
E-mail: ehideno@yahoo.co.uk

Cyril Erameh, Department of Internal Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Department of Internal Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
E-mail: cyrilerameh@gmail.com

Mojeed Olaitan Rafiu, Department of Internal Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Department of Internal Medicine, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
E-mail: raphymoj2012@gmail.com

Wilson Ovienria, Department of Ophthalmology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Department of Ophthalmology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
E-mail: ovienria3@yahoo.com

Catherina Ephraim-Ogbaini, Department of Medical Records, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Department of Medical Records, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria.
E-mail: rephrem@yahoo.com

Faith Ireye, WHO Edo State Office, Benin City, Nigeria

WHO Edo State Office, Benin City, Nigeria
E-mail: ireyef@who.int

Stephan Günther, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany

Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
E-mail: guenther@bni.uni-hamburg.de

Sophie Duraffour, Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany

Bernhard-Nocht Institute for Tropical Medicine, Hamburg, Germany
E-mail: duraffour@bnitm.de

Sylvanus Okogbenin, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria

Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital, Nigeria
E-mail: okogbenins@yahoo.com

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Published

2023-07-04

How to Cite

Ogbaini-Emovon, E., Erah, F., Osagiede, E. F., Nnadi, C. J., Ogbetere, Y., Tobin, E. A., Asogun, D., Okonofua, M., Akpede, G., Akhideno, P., Erameh, C., Rafiu, M. O., Ovienria, W., Ephraim-Ogbaini, C., Ojide, C., Unigwe, U., Ireye, F., Günther, S., Duraffour, S., & Okogbenin, S. (2023). Lassa Fever Infection among Healthcare Workers during the 2018 Outbreak in Nigeria. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Health, 13(3), 272–281. https://doi.org/10.3126/ijosh.v13i3.44269

Issue

Section

Short Communication

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