Healthcare-associated Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever in Turkey, 2002–2014: a multicentre retrospective cross-sectional study

H Leblebicioglu,M Sunbul,R Guner,H Bodur,C Bulut,F Duygu,N Elaldi,G Cicek Senturk,Z Ozkurt,G Yilmaz,T.E Fletcher,N.J Beeching

doi:10.1016/j.cmi.2015.11.024

Abstract

Healthcare-related transmission of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a well-recognized hazard. We report a multicentre retrospective cross-sectional study undertaken in Turkey in 2014 in nine hospitals, regional reference centres for CCHF, covering the years 2002 to 2014 inclusive. Data were systematically extracted from charts of all personnel with a reported health care injury/accident related to CCHF. Blood samples were tested for CCHF IgM/IgG by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and/or viral nucleic acid detection by PCR after the injury. Fifty-one healthcare-related exposures were identified. Twenty-five (49%) of 51 resulted in laboratory-confirmed infection, with a 16% (4/25) overall mortality. The main route of exposure was needlestick injury in 32/51 (62.7%). A potential benefit of post-exposure prophylaxis with ribavirin was identified.

Highlights

Healthcare-related transmission of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a well-recognized hazard
CCHF is geographically widespread across Africa, Eastern Europe, Asia and the Middle East [2] and is occasionally seen in travellers returning from endemic areas [3]
Healthcare personnel are at risk from occupational infections during patient care; the first such cases were described in Pakistan and were later reported from many Eurasian countries [4,5,6,7,8,9]

Summary

Introduction

Healthcare-related transmission of Crimean-Congo haemorrhagic fever (CCHF) is a well-recognized hazard. Healthcare personnel are at risk from occupational infections during patient care; the first such cases were described in Pakistan and were later reported from many Eurasian countries [4,5,6,7,8,9]. These nine centres managed approximately 50% of confirmed cases of CCHF in Turkey during the study period, acting as tertiary centres for more severe and complicated disease.

Results

Conclusion