Zhang Shuang, Feng Min, Zeng Wei, Tuo Xiaoli, He Yunfeng, An Han, He Yan, Chen Wenwei, Liu Zhu, Feng Ge, Chen Jun, Dou Fengman
Chengdu Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu 610041, China.
Chengdu Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Chengdu 610041, China. Email:
Zhonghua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi. 2014 Mar;35(3):295-8.
To investigate an outbreak of beta-hemolytic streptococcal tonsillitis in a hospital.
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.
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.
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.
