Costs and benefits of varicella screening and vaccination for healthcare workers at a general hospital

Objective: To demonstrate the costs and benefits of screening and vaccinati ng varicella-susceptible healthcare personnel-at a general hospital with li ve attenuated varicella-zoster virus vaccine, Methods: Screening of healthcare workers at Almana General Hospital, Al-Khu bar, Dammam for varicella-zoster antibody by indirect fluorescent antibody. Results: Out of 757 healthcare workers, 511 (62.5%) had a definite history of varicella-zoster virus infection in the past. Of 161 healthcare workers with no history of varicella-zoster virus infection, 129 (80%) were positiv e for varicella-zoster antibody when tested by indirect fluorescent antibod y. Then were 28 cases of chickenpox among hospital staff in one year, and t hey were excluded from contact with patients for 5-7 days each. Conclusion: Adopting varicella screening and vaccination of susceptible hea lthcare workers in a general hospital would be cost-effective and will resu lt in improved patient care.