An outbreak of beta-hemolytic streptococcal caused tonsillitis in a hospital of Chengdu city / 中华流行病学杂志

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To investigate an outbreak of beta-hemolytic streptococcal tonsillitis in a hospital.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>A case-control study was conducted with a self-made questionnaire to collect the risk factors. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression model were used to explore the relationship between risk factors and morbidity.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>74 cases were occurred during the outbreak with patients aged mainly between 20-30 and more females than males. Most cases appeared abrupt onset between Aug., 20-22. All the patients were hospital workers, with majority as nurses and doctors from the operating room, department of anesthesiology and surgical related departments (71.62%). All patients shared the same experience-eating lunch in the dining room on Aug 19(odds ratio 6.67, 95% confidence interval 1.92-23.23). Beta-hemolytic streptococci was observed from cultures of the throats from the patients.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>The outbreak was an explosive epidemic of tonsillitis in a hospital, caused by beta-hemolytic streptococci. Food provided from the dining room attached to the operating theater on August, 19 seemed to be the risk factor.</p>