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Measles prevention and control in the acute healthcare setting-minding the gaps
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Measles prevention and control in the acute healthcare setting-minding the gaps

Loreen Herwaldt, Hilary Babcock, Karen Brust, Susan E Beekmann and Philip Polgreen
Infection control and hospital epidemiology
08/26/2026
DOI: 10.1017/ice.2026.10498
PMID: 42642848
Appears in  UI Libraries Support Open Access
url
https://doi.org/10.1017/ice.2026.10498View
Published (Version of record) Open Access CC BY-NC-ND V4.0

Abstract

As measles vaccination rates in the United States decline and incidence rises, healthcare facilities face an increased risk of measles transmission. Measles exposures in clinical settings lead to extensive contact tracing investigations, significant staffing disruptions, high costs, and potential infections in vulnerable patients. This study aimed to assess US hospitals' readiness of to identify and manage measles exposures and to identify common infection prevention gaps. In 2025, the Emerging Infections Network (EIN) conducted a 9-question electronic survey of its physician members. The questions addressed immunization policies, exposure identification capabilities, and management protocols. Of 153 respondents whose scope of practice includes measles prevention, 139 (91%) reported that their institutions required evidence of measles immunity for some healthcare personnel; 20% applied this requirement to a subset. Only 36% of facilities stored immunity data for employed staff in accessible electronic format. Most facilities could determine when patients were in specific clinical areas but could not identify visitors or non-employed staff. Exposure definitions varied; 33% of respondents used criteria that potentially underestimate exposure risk (eg, >15 min of shared air). Others lacked access to air exchange data (33%). Furthermore, 12%-31% of respondents reported their institutions do not consistently recommend postexposure prophylaxis for non-immune individuals. Despite the high transmissibility of measles, significant gaps in record-keeping, exposure definitions, and prophylaxis protocols persist in US hospitals. Standardized exposure criteria and improved accessibility to staff immunity records could help reduce measles transmission in health care and the associated clinical and financial adverse outcomes.
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