An outbreak of nosocomial cholera in a 755-bed hospital.

From 30 October to 7 December 1984, an outbreak of nosocomial cholera involving 11 cases of biotype El Tor, serotype Inaba, took place in a 755-bed hospital in southern Thailand. The outbreak occurred primarily among patients admitted with severe illness. Of the 11 cases, 7 were children and 4 were adults. Most cases had mild symptoms of cholera and no case died in this outbreak. The first 2 cases occurred sporadically with a subsequent cluster of cases showing an explosive pattern. A case-control study found that a history of receiving liquid tube-fed diet was significantly more common among cholera cases than their matched controls, but it could not be determined how the diet was contaminated with cholera. Cases were also significantly more likely than controls to be on oral antacid medication which could increase risk of infection by neutralizing gastric acidity. No additional cases occurred after extensive implementation of control measures.