Perioperative Occupational Exposure to Coxiella burnetii-Infected Thoracic Endovascular Aneurysm Stent Graft

We conducted this study to determine the risk of transmission of Q fever to health care workers (HCWs) during perioperative exposure to Coxiella burnetii-infected thoracic endovascular aneurysm stent graft. Pre-operative and 6-week post-operative phase I and II IgG Q fever antibody titers were determined in 14 staff members of an operation room. The room had a negative pressure and all the members of the surgical team wore either a fitted N-95 mask or a powered purified air respirator. Phase I and II IgG antibody titers were <1:16 for 11 of the 14 studied HCWs; 2 HCWs did not follow up at 6 weeks and 1 had a pre-exposure phase II IgG titer of 1:128 with no change 6 weeks later. We concluded that risk of transmission of C. burnetii in the operating room from infected patient to HCWs who wore appropriate personal protective equipment is low.