Scabies

Sharon..you are completely right..we have found out that sick time is a benefit..not an entitlement. The major point here was that the lack of communication and the blame on the staff members created such anger. We understand as healthcare workers that these things can happen..as dedicated harworking professionals we did not deserve to be treated the way we were. We have certainly learned a lot from this experience..and that is what life is about!! Thanks for your input........

"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

I am going to try to step out from this discussion. I am receiving way to many phone calls from physicians, law enforcement officers, and social workers about the misinformation of this issue among US Nurses.

Because of the change in the tone of some calls I have received from investigators, I am concerned about incomplete information posted about facilities on this thread triggering investigations.

A final word:

I think Sharon meant to state be careful of being too descriptive of facilities/scenerios when posting on the bulletin boards asking for information.

A definitive source of information is on the the US Centers for Disease Control website:

Fact sheet for public:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/dpd/parasi...ht_scabies.htm

Detailed professional clinical information:
http://www.dpd.cdc.gov/dpdx/HTML/Scabies.htm

NRSKarenRN