An Epidemiological Investigation Report of a Cluster of Chickenpox Cases in a Ward of a Tertiary Healthcare Hospital in Delhi

Sunanda  Gupta; Monu; Shweta  Jain; Pratap  Singh; Jugal Kishore

Sunanda Gupta Senior Resident, Department of Community Medicine, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Monu Postgraduate Student, Department of Community Medicine, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Shweta Jain Professor, Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Pratap Singh Professor, Department of Medicine, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.
Jugal Kishore Director Professor, Department of Community Medicine, VMMC and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India.

Keywords: Cluster, Chicken Pox, Varicella, Outbreak Investigation

Abstract

Introduction: Infectious diseases are common in healthcare settings. When they appear as a cluster, they should be investigated properly and documented. A cluster refers to an aggregation of cases grouped in place and time suspected to be greater than the expected number.
Method: A cluster of chickenpox cases was reported from the Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PMR) Ward of a tertiary healthcare hospital in January 2023. The case history was noted with the help of a case investigation sheet. Contact tracing was conducted.
Results: This study reports the investigation and control strategy adopted during the outbreak. Vesicular fluid, nasopharyngeal swabs, and blood of the patients were sent in suitable culture media for a Polymerase Chain Reaction test (PCR) for varicella DNA, for microbiological confirmation of the diagnosis. All cases were found positive. Primary and secondary cases were identified. An epidemic curve was prepared.
Conclusion: The varicella cases investigation enabled us to find the primary case, who brought the infection to the ward. Prompt preventive measures could limit the spread of infection in the hospital.

How to cite this article:
Gupta S, Monu, Jain S, Singh P, Kishore J. An Epidemiological Investigation Report of a Cluster of Chickenpox Cases in a Ward of a Tertiary Healthcare Hospital in Delhi. Epidem Int. 2024;9(1):5-8.

DOI: https://doi.org/ 10.24321/2455.7048.202402

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