Frequency and characteristics of hospital-sponsored pertussis revaccination programs in the southern United States.

Abstract

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) released guidelines in December, 2006, recommending revaccination against Bordetella pertussis with Tdap for all post-partum women and healthcare workers. The CDC recommendations specifically state "the postpartum Tdap should be administered before discharge from the hospital or birthing center" and "hospitals and ambulatory-care facilities should provide Tdap for healthcare personnel." The purpose of this survey was to determine the frequency and characteristics of hospital-sponsored pertussis revaccination programs in the southern United States. A twenty-six question electronic survey was sent to a representative of either the infection control or pharmacy department of hospitals in the following south central states: Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas. The survey was designed to collect information regarding the institution's demographic factors and Tdap vaccination policies. Thirty-seven of 120 surveys (30.8%) were returned. Thirty respondents (81.1%) reported awareness of the 2006 CDC recommendations. Of the 29 institutions offering labor and delivery services, 14 (48.3%) confirmed having a post-partum vaccination policy, 12 (41.4%) reported having no post-partum vaccination policy, and 3 (10.3%) were unaware of whether a policy was currently in place. Of the 37 responding institutions, 34 (91.9%) offer employee vaccinations, although only 31 of those 34 programs (91.1%) offer Tdap to employees. According to survey responses, many institutions have not yet implemented Tdap vaccination programs for post-partum patients or healthcare workers according to CDC recommendations. There was no correlation between institution demographics and the presence or characteristics of Tdap revaccination programs.