"If you have a confirm outbreak of scabies between staff and patients this is a Major Indicator of probable assault..."
What species of scabies do you have in your location? We have
Sarcoptes Scabiei
"Mites are transferred by direct contact with an infested person and can burrow beneath the skin in 2.5 minutes. Infestation from undergarments and bedclothes occurs only if these have been contaminated by the infested person immediately beforehand."
(Centre for Disease Control Northern Territory, 2003)
http://www.nt.gov.au/health/cdc/trea...ol/scabies.pdf
"Scabies infests all races and ages. After coming in contact with skin, the mite exudes a keratinase and sinks down one or two cell layers into the epidermis. There, it moves slowly forward, parallel to the epidermal level (at a centimeter a day), passing its life cycle of about a month. It takes about three to four weeks for an infested human to begin itching" (T Shwayder,, Dermatologist, 2003)
.
http://www.medscape.com/viewarticle/459023_1
In our experience it is not always transmitted by close sexual contact. Many of our clients on our ward come in with multiple medical conditions and may have scabies as well. It is not uncommon for our staff to "catch" them. The hospital automatically gives us three days off with workers compensation if scabies has been diagnosed by a medical officer.
Dont forget, those who are immunocompromised are more likely to suffer from the severe form, crusted / Norwegian scabies. To protect ourselves we are required to wear the full gamut; theatre pants, longsleeved gowns, gloves, caps and booties. Then we spray our feet with insecticide when we leave the room. This must in itself indicate that close personal contact such as you describe is
not the only way of transmitting this mite.
Jacqui
Would you like to comment?
