Sick Worker Infects 17 Long-Term Care Patients in Japan

According to a study recently published in the American Journal of Infection Control (AJIC), the presence of one ill health care worker led to respiratory infections in 17 patients and more than US$12,000 in total medical costs.

The infections occurred within a long-term care hospital ward in Japan that treats patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID). According to the study, respiratory tract infections account for more than 40% of deaths among SMID patients.

“To our knowledge, this is the first study that used statistical analysis to confirm the source of a respiratory infection in a long-term care ward for patients with severe motor and intellectual disabilities, as well as the first to calculate the corresponding medical costs,” said Naoki Takayama of the National Hospital Organization Tenryuu Hospital in Hamamatsu, Japan, and a study author. “It sheds light on the significant clinical and financial implications of health care workers coming to work while ill, a phenomenon known as presenteeism that is detrimental and challenging for many health care facilities.”

Presenteeism a Problem With Its Own Issues

According to the study, many issues can contribute to employees’ presenteeism, including concerns about lost income, lack of days off, burdening colleagues, and maintaining professionalism.

In this specific instance, the worker was a part-time employee with 10 years of experience who came to work despite having a cough, nasal discharge, sore throat, and headache. She completed a health screening checklist upon arrival for her shift and practiced standard precautionary measures, such as wearing a surgical mask.

A Priority for Better Protection Within Health Care

“The findings from this study suggest that identifying and eliminating the factors that contribute to employee presenteeism should be a priority for health care facilities and providers to better protect their patients and employees from infectious illness,” said Linda Dickey, president of the Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology (APIC)

The health care worker and all 17 patients recovered from their infections.