Susceptibility to Varicella Zoster Virus Infection in Health Care Workers

Varicella zoster virus (VZV) is an occupational hazard for apercentage of health care staff. Nine hundred and seventy staffmembers attending the Occupational Health Department at CorkUniversity Hospital took part in the survey. A latex agglutinationassay was used to determine the health care workers immune statusto VZV. Of the 970 workers tested, 928 (95.7%) were immune toVZV. The sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of anenquiry regarding a history of chicken-pox was determined ona sample of 206.health care workers: The positive predictivevalue was 95% (119/125) and the negative predictive value was11% (4/35). The sensitivity of the enquiry was 79% (119/150).the specificity was 40% (4/10), reducing to 61% (119/195) and36% (4/11) respectively when individuals with uncertain hitorieswere included in the calculations. The advantages and disadvantagesof selective staff screening are discussed. In the authors opinionall health care workers involved in the clinical care of patientsshould be screened by serology for past VZV infection beforetaking up duty and those who are susceptible to VZV should bemade aware of the risks and health effects associated with VZVif contracted.