Healthcare Personnel Exposure Risk Assessment and Management During a Mpox Outbreak in Chicago, Illinois, May 17-July 8, 2022.
Shane ZelencikAlison VanDineMaria Campos-BoveeKimberly GoitiaValbona CelaKelly WalblayDaniel GalantoMassimo PacilliDo Young KimStephanie R BlackPublished in: The Journal of infectious diseases (2023)
This report summarizes risk assessment interviews and follow up with healthcare personnel (HCP) after exposure to patients with mpox disease during May 17-July 8, 2022. HCP-case interactions were assessed using a standard questionnaire to categorize the risk associated with patient encounters. We assessed 150 interactions among 142 HCP and 30 cases. Four(2.7%) interactions were defined as high risk, 5(3.3%) intermediate, 107(71.3%) low, and 31(20.7%) no risk. High and intermediate exposures were offered post-exposure prophylaxis; four accepted. No documented mpox transmission after exposure was identified. These findings suggest transmission risk in healthcare settings during routine patient care is low.