Rubella Epidemic in a Maternity Unit

The immune status of medical and nursing personnel working in obstetric departments should be ascertained serologically, and that rubella vaccine should be offered to those who are susceptible and who become infected.

Abstract

Four cases of rubella, the last confirmed by laboratory tests, occurred among the nurses of a large obstetric unit. Immediate measures were taken to prevent the spread of the infection to pregnant patients and staff, and none was in fact infected.Persons susceptible to rubella and who become infected may pose a real danger to women in early stages of gestation during the incubation period. We recommend that the immune status of medical and nursing personnel working in obstetric departments should be ascertained serologically, and that rubella vaccine should be offered to those who are susceptible.