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.