Investigation of a scabies outbreak in an elderly nursing home in Muang district, Chiang Mai, October 2013
Keywords:
scabies, elderly, nursing home, Chiang MaiAbstract
Backgrounds: In October 10th, 2013 the Health Promotion Center at Maharaj Nakorn Chiang Mai Hospital reported to its infectious disease control and prevention unit, there were many elders in a nursing home with signs and symptoms of scabies; intense itching of fingers, armpit, and body.
Methods: A possible outbreak of scabies was investigated and confirmed by the epidemiological team of the hospital to identify patients, control and prevention of the disease, and set up surveillance system.
Results: A total of 10 cases were identified, 9 elders and one caregivers. The attack rate was 6% (N=147 of both elders and care givers). The prevalence of scabies in two dormitories, Dorm 4 and Dorm 5, were 27% and 12%, respectively. The patients’ signs and symptoms were rash and itching around trunk, arms, legs, or crook. The skin scraping exams did not find scabies mites and eggs. Control measures were comprised of oral antiparasitic treatment, laundered clothing, bedding, linens and utensils in hot water and dried using the hot cycle, or dry cleaned.
Conclusion: After one-year surveillance showed that no new case was found. The factors contributing to the outbreak were sharing of personal things (eg. clothing, towels, bedding, and furniture) especially among elders with disabilities. Delays in the diagnosis and treatment caused higher outbreak risk in the nursing home than other places. The investigation team suggested to a nursing home administration to have a screening of infectious diseases in older people who newly entered the nursing home and those who moved around the dorms. The purposes of these measures are to prevent infestation and the outbreak of the disease in the nursing home.
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