The role of infection prevention and control in the mitigation of human-to-human transmission of Nipah virus: a systematic review

Resumo original em inglês

O que aconteceu

Detected first in humans in 1998, Nipah virus (NiV) has produced regular outbreaks with high mortality rates in Southeast Asia. Outbreaks are often driven by human-to-human transmission, posing an infection risk to both the wider community and healthcare workers who care for NiV cases. Infection prevention and control (IPC) practices are key to preventing amplification of disease outbreaks and protecting both healthcare workers and other patients, but significant evidence gaps exist in the identification of specific modes of NiV transmission that occur in outbreaks and the effectiveness of currently recommended IPC practices against NiV.

A literature search was conducted, retrieving studies from PubMed, Embase, and medRxiv. Following screening, 32 eligible studies were included in the review. Selected studies described the modes of transmission identified in NiV outbreaks, effectiveness of IPC practices against NiV and specific risk factors for NiV transmission. A meta-analysis of NiV transmission exposure risk factors was subsequently conducted.

O que encontraram

NiV transmission was identified following various types of contact with cases, including direct contact, touching body fluids and contact with a case after death. A minority of cases were responsible for most transmission events, with 94 cases (67%) with identified transmission routes generated from 6 cases (4%). No comparative studies were found that assessed IPC effectiveness, but several studies described examples of shortcomings in IPC provision in NiV outbreaks. Meta-analysis identified contact with a NiV case as a significant risk factor for transmission.

Por que isso importa

Identification of multiple modes of human-to-human transmission stresses the importance of adherence to recommended IPC practices when caring for NiV patients. Several nosocomial outbreaks coincided with deficiencies in the wearing of personal protective equipment, hand hygiene, and surface cleanliness. The successful application of updated global IPC recommendations would represent a significant advancement of global preparedness for NiV outbreaks to prevent disease transmission and reduce the risk of a NiV epidemic or pandemic.

Resumo publicado sob licença CC BY. A tradução para o português ainda não chegou a este estudo.