Tehran University Medical Journal

Background: Health care workers (HCWs) are at substantial risk of acquiring bloodborne pathogen infections through contact with blood and other potentially infectious materials. The main objectives of this study were to determine the epidemiological characteristics of occupational exposure to blood/body fluids, related risk factors of such exposure, and hepatitis B vaccination status among HCWs.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted from December 2004 to June 2005 at three university hospitals in Tehran, Iran. Using a structured interview, we questioned HCWs who had the potential for high-risk exposure during the year preceding the study.

Results: With a total number of 467 exposures (52.9%) and an annual rate of 0.5 exposures per HCW, 391 (43%) of the 900 HCWs had at least one occupational exposure to blood and other infected fluids during the previous year. The highest rate of occupational exposure was found among nurses (26%) and the housekeeping staff (20%). These exposures most commonly occurred in the medical and emergency wards (23% and 21%, respectively). The rate of exposure in HCWs with less than five years of experience was 54%. Percutaneous injury was reported in 280 participants (59%). The history of hepatitis B vaccination was positive in 85.93% of the exposed HCWs. Sixty-one percent had used gloves at the time of exposure. Hand washing was reported in 91.4% and consultation with an infectious disease specialist in 29.4%. There were 72 exposures to HIV, HBV and HCV exposure to HBV was the most common. In 237 of the enrolled cases, the source was unknown. Job type, years of experience and hospital ward were the risk factors for exposure.
Conclusion: Education, protective barriers and vaccination are important in the prevention of viral transmission among HCWs.

Background: Herpes encephalitis is the most common cause of fatal encephalitis in the world which often presents with sudden fever, headache, seizure, focal neurologic symptoms, and consciousness loss. The aim of this study was to report a case of maternal death caused by herpes encephalitis which appropriate antibiotic therapy delayed because of early diagnosis of eclampsia.

Case Presentation: A 16-year-old pregnant woman at 36th weeks of gestation was referred to gynecology emergency department of Ghaem Hospital, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences in 2016. She was admitted due to 4 times of generalized tonic-clonic seizures and blood pressure of 140/90 mmHg with diagnosis of eclampsia. Cesarean section was performed for fetal distress and eclampsia remote from delivery. 6 hours after cesarean section because of higher than 39 °C and reduction in consciousness status, she was transferred to intensive care unit (ICU). The first brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was normal. Lumbar puncture (LP) was performed and brain MRI was repeated that increased signal was observed in two sides of basal ganglia. Intravenous acyclovir was administered by possible diagnosis of viral meningoencephalitis. Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) was positive in terms of herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1). Unfortunately, the patient died 35 days after hospitalization by diagnosis of HSV-1 encephalitis and bilateral infarction with frequent seizures and clinical manifestation of septic shock refractory to treatment.

Conclusion: Although the first diagnosis for generalized convulsion during pregnancy is eclampsia, but in case of recurrent and specially atypical seizures and low consciousness level, other diagnosis like meningoencephalitis, brain lesions and cavernous sinus thrombosis (CVT) must be considered and ruled out.