Key takeaways:
- Measles circumstances are climbing in america, with greater than 900 circumstances reported up to now in 2025.
- Early identification, isolation and data sharing might help forestall transmission in well being care services.
After a baby was admitted to Youngsters’s Hospital Los Angeles with measles final summer season, three issues helped forestall secondary transmission: early identification, isolation and data sharing.
Karyn Wong, MPH, CIC, an an infection preventionist on the hospital, described the three “Is” of measles prevention to Healio in a bit extra element:
- early identification of circumstances and exposures;
- isolating affected people; and
- sharing info with hospital employees and native well being departments.
Derived from Braunfeld J, et al. Contact tracing and prevention of secondary measles transmission in a pediatric acute care hospital — Los Angeles County, July 2024. Offered at: SHEA Spring 2025; April 27-30, 2025; Orlando.
Greater than 900 confirmed measles circumstances have been reported in 30 states up to now in 2025, together with three deaths. Measles is without doubt one of the world’s most infectious ailments, and specialists say it’s crucial to cease transmission as quickly as attainable.
We talked to Wong on the SHEA Spring convention about how the hospital used the three “Is” technique in response to a measles case and what her recommendation is for well being care employees who encounter measles at their hospitals.
In accordance with Wong and colleagues, a vaccinated 12-year-old baby offered with a fever, rash, mouth sores and cough in July 2024 after touring overseas. As soon as employees suspected the kid had measles, they remoted the affected person and commenced figuring out individuals who could have been uncovered. The kid subsequently examined optimistic for measles.
“It triggered this complete assembly between an infection prevention and our hospital management with the intention to see what we might do ought to this affected person flip optimistic,” Wong mentioned. “There was a whole lot of background work that was taking place as we had been ready for that outcome to come back again — whether or not or not it’s optimistic or unfavourable.”
“When that outcome got here again optimistic, we already had laid some groundwork,” she mentioned.
An infection prevention employees recognized 350 individuals who had been uncovered, together with 187 employees members, 73 sufferers and 90 guests. Total, 257 had been immunized or had been presumed to be resistant to measles.
Wong mentioned two different hospital employees members — Michael A. Smit, MD, MSPH, hospital epidemiologist and medical director of an infection prevention and management, and Susan Wu, MD, chief high quality officer — reviewed immunization and medical data for the remaining 93 individuals who had no identified vaccination standing. She mentioned anybody who didn’t know in the event that they had been vaccinated had been presumed to be unvaccinated and had been eligible for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP).
Wong and colleagues reported that 49 individuals obtained PEP on the hospital, and an extra 11 guests and 11 sufferers obtained PEP elsewhere. Most individuals (n = 39) who obtained PEP on the hospital bought the MMR vaccine; two individuals obtained intramuscular immunoglobulin, and eight individuals obtained intravenous immunoglobulin, they famous.
Sixteen guests and sufferers didn’t obtain PEP, however they monitored their signs each day after publicity. Six employees members who didn’t have immunity remoted themselves at dwelling for 21 days after publicity.
Wong and colleagues reported that nobody uncovered to the case developed measles.
It was not simply hospital employees who had been concerned on this effort, Wong mentioned. She mentioned employees labored intently with the native well being division to determine exposures and provide PEP to individuals who had been eligible.
“They had been assembly with us each day with the intention to assess who was uncovered and likewise decide the following steps,” she mentioned.
Wong mentioned well being departments are nice sources in an infection prevention and that well being care employees ought to attain out to departments in the event that they encounter measles within the office. Moreover, she mentioned clinicians can attain out to an infection prevention employees in different services for help.
“We’re very supportive, and we’re very prepared to assist,” she mentioned.
“It’s immediate identification, early isolation and data sharing that’s vital to stop the unfold of measles, after which additionally to vaccinate,” Wong mentioned. “On the finish of the day, vaccinate. Vaccines work, and we all know it’s confirmed that this vaccine works.”
References:
- Braunfeld J, et al. Contact tracing and prevention of secondary measles transmission in a pediatric acute care hospital — Los Angeles County, July 2024. Offered at: SHEA Spring 2025; April 27-30, 2025; Orlando.
- CDC. Measles circumstances and outbreaks. https://www.cdc.gov/measles/data-research/index.html. Up to date April 25, 2025. Accessed Might 1, 2025.
For extra info:
For questions on an infection prevention, Karyn Wong, MPH, CIC, might be reached at karwong@chla.usc.edu.
For scientific questions, contact Michael A. Smit, MD, MSPH, at msmit@chla.usc.edu.
