Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-02T19:00:16.896Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Postoperative Group A β-Hemolytic Streptococcus Outbreak With the Pathogen Traced to a Member of a Healthcare Worker's Household

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Sindy M. Paul ,
Carol Genese  and
Kenneth Spitalny
Sindy M. Paul*
Affiliation:
New Jersey State Department of Health Division of Epidemiology, Trenton, New Jersey
Carol Genese
Affiliation:
New Jersey State Department of Health Division of Epidemiology, Trenton, New Jersey
Kenneth Spitalny
Affiliation:
New Jersey State Department of Health Division of Epidemiology, Trenton, New Jersey
*
New Jersey State Department of Health, 3635 Quakerbridge Road. Trenton, NJ 08625-0369
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

A cluster of four group A (β-hemolytic Streptococcus postoperative wound infections was investigated at a community hospital. The serotypes of the Streptococcus isolated from all four cases, an asymptomatic anesthesiologist and one of his household members were M nontypable T28. During the outbreak period, December 1988, the infection rate among the 40 patients of the anesthesiologist was 7.5%. Among other patients not having contact with this healthcare worker, it was 0.09% (p = .0002 Fisher's exact test). This is only the second reported Group A β-hemolytic Streptococcus hospital outbreak in which the pathogen was traced to a member of a healthcare worker's household. Early outbreak detection and intervention limited the extent of the outbreak.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 11 , Issue 12 , December 1990 , pp. 643 - 646
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1990

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Hospital outbreak of streptococcal wound infection. MMWR. 1976;25:1.Google Scholar
2. Asnes, RS, Vail, D. Anal carrier rates of group A β-hemolytic streptococci in children with streptococcal pharyngitis. Pediatrics. 1973;52:439–441.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
3. Berkelman, RL, Martin, D, Graham, DR, et al. Streptococcal wound infections caused by a vaginal carrier. JAMA. 1982;247:2680–2682.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4. Gryska, PF, O'Dea, AE. Postoperative streptococcal wound infection. JAMA. 1970;213:1189–1191.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5. McKee, WM, Di Caprio, JM, Roberts, CE Jr, et al. Anal carriage as the probable source of a streptococcal epidemic. Lancet. 1966;ii:1007–1009.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6. McIntyre, DM: An epidemic of Streptococcus pyogenes puerperal and postoperative sepsis with an unusual carrier site—the anus. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1968;101:308–314.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7. Mead, PB, Ribble, JC, Dillon, TF. Group A streptococcal puerperal infection report of an epidemic. Obstet Gynecol. 1968;32:460–464.Google Scholar
8. Nash, FW, Mann, TP, Haydn, IW. An outbreak of streptococcal infection in a maternity unit. Postgrad Med J. 1965;41:182–184.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9. Pollack, MM, Schisgall, RM. Overwhelming postoperative streptococcal infection. J Pediatr Surg. 1978;13:527–528.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
10. Richman, DD. Breton, SJ. Goldmann, DA. Scarlet fever and group A streptococcal'surgical wound infection traced to an anal carrier. J Pediatr. 1977;90:387–390.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11. Schaffner, W, Lefkowitz, LB Jr, Goodman, JS, et al. Hospital outbreak of infections with group A streptococci traced to an asymptomatic anal carrier. N Engl J Med. 1969;280:1224–1225.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12. Schoenknecht, FD, Batjer, JD, Sherris, JC. Anal streptococci. N Engl J Med. 1969:281:220.Google ScholarPubMed
13. Schrack, WD, Miller, GB, Parkin, WE, et al. Four streptococcal infections traced to an anal carrier. Pennsylvania Medicine. 1979;82:35–36.Google Scholar
14. Stamm, WE, Feeley, JC, Facklam, RR. Wound infections due to group A Streptococcus traced to a vaginal carrier. J Infec Dis. 1978:138:287–292.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15. Strasberg, SM, Silver, MS. Hemolytic Streptococcus gangrene an uncommon but frequently fatal infection in the antibiotic era. Am J Surg. 1968;115:763–767.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16. Tancer, ML, McManus, JE, Bellotti, G. Group A, Type 33, β-hemolytic streptococcal outbreak on a maternity and newborn service. Am J Obstet Gynecol. 1969;103:1028–1033.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
17. Quinn, RW, Hillman, JW. An epidemic of streptococcal wound infections. Arch Environ Health. 1965;11:28–33.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
18. Bisno, AL. Streptococcus pyogenes. In: Mandell, GL, Douglas, RJ Jr, Bennett, JE, eds. Principles and Practices of Infectious Diseases. 2nd ed. New York, NY: Wiley Medical Publication; 1985:1129 Google Scholar
19. Barnhart, ER. Physicians' Desk Reference. 40th ed. Oradell, NJ: Medical Economics Company Inc.; 1986:1058,1194.Google Scholar