SEARCH · PubMed Health

Results for “outbreak”

Explore indexed PubMed citations for clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health research. Read source abstracts and follow each citation to its original PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 91 records · Page 5Linked to original sources

PubMed1988

Waterborne enteric disease outbreaks in Israel, 1976-1985.

Waterborne enteric disease remains a major public health problem in developing countries, as well as in developed countries, such that the World Health Organization declared 1981-90 the International Water Decade. Israeli experience with waterborne disease outbreaks in the decade 1976-85 is reviewed. Community water systems accounted for 52 outbreaks, with 25 occurring between 1976 and 1980 and 27 between 1981 and 1985. Total cases reported in these outbreaks were 7,681 and 10,880 respectively. In the latter period, reported cases resulting from these outbreaks constituted a very high percentage of the total reported cases of diarrheal disease in the country. The waterborne disease outbreaks were mostly due to secondary contamination of water systems due to human error and poor maintenance. In comparison with the United States, Israel experienced 18.7 times as many community waterborne disease outbreaks per capita. The need for routine preventive chlorination, and filtration on a selective basis, of community drinking water systems is strongly indicated, as recommended in current United States and World Health Organization guidelines in order to improve this grossly substandard aspect of Israeli public health.

Bacterial Infections↗

PubMed1978

Epidemiology of common-source outbreaks of shigellosis in the United States, 1961-1975.

In 1961-1975, there were 72 foodborne and 38 waterborne outbreaks of shigellosis reported in the United States. Foodborne outbreaks were most often caused by salads with contamination attributed to poor hygiene of a food handler. Waterborne outbreaks most often involved semipublic water systems, and were usually the result of inadequate chlorination of water contaminated by human feces. In 110 common-source outbreaks, 16,541 persons were ill. The attack rate for both food- and waterborne shigellosis was 47%, and the case-fatality ratio was 0.1% in foodborne outbreaks and 0.2% in waterborne outbreaks.

Disease Outbreaks↗

PubMed1983

Neonatal diarrhea of pigs in Quebec: infectious causes of significant outbreaks.

To evaluate the relative importance of the various enteropathogens causing neonatal diarrhea in Quebec farrowing operations, observations were made on 749 diarrheic pigs from 325 outbreaks of diarrhea. They were one to 15 days of age, and were obtained alive for necropsy generally within 48 hours of the onset of diarrhea. Some pigs were from severe, explosive outbreaks of diarrhea with high morbidity and mortality rates, while others were from herds with chronic neonatal diarrhea with lower morbidity and mortality rates. A combination of bacteriological, virological and histological methods were used to study the pigs. Viruses were incriminated in 60%, bacteria in 23% and coccidia in 15.3% of the 325 diarrhea outbreaks. Transmissible gastroenteritis virus was by far the most common enteropathogen with a prevalence of 52%; rotavirus was implicated in 9.2% of the outbreaks while adenovirus was incriminated in 0.30% of the outbreaks. Enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli were involved in 22.4% of the cases while Clostridium perfringens type C was an occasional finding. Coccidia involved in our herds were identified as Isospora suis. The disease was attributed to infection with a single etiologic agent in 590 diarrheic pigs (78%) while combinations of agents were present in only 90 (12%). The age-specific occurrence of the various enteropathogens was evaluated. Transmissible gastroenteritis virus was the most common enteropathogen in all age groups. Colibacillosis was common in pigs which became diarrheic under five days of age; in this age group, the enterotoxigenic E. coli were frequently found alone, but were usually combined with other agents in older pigs. The prevalence of coccidia was high in pigs which became diarrheic between five and 15 days of age. Rotavirus infection was common in diarrheic pigs older than ten days of age. Although individual baby pigs were commonly infected with a single enteropathogen, it was very common to see more than one agent involved in an outbreak of diarrhea, particularly when pigs of different ages were affected. Observations on the occurrence of the enteropathogens according to the seasons were also made. Occurrence of transmissible gastroenteritis was throughout the year with the highest prevalence during the fall, winter and spring months. Colibacillosis and coccidiosis were more common in the summer, fall and early winter months with the lowest prevalence in the spring months.

Adenoviridae↗

PubMed1984

[Persistence of virus in swine stock and breeding farms following an outbreak of Aujeszky's disease].

On seven fattening farms and seven breeding farms, investigations were carried out to examine whether Aujeszky virus was capable of persisting in particular animal groups or units of the farm as a productive infection following a virologically verified outbreak. After an outbreak on fattening farms, virus persisted temporarily as newly arrived piglets became systematically infected. On the farms on which this could be accurately followed, virus persistence continued for at least 1 1/2 to 2 months. However, this cycle of infection was found to be interrupted on each farm within approximately three months after the outbreak, which resulted in a gradual return to a totally sensitive animal population, so that new outbreaks could occur. On the seven swine breeding farms, virus persistence in the farrowing house was examined by placing seronegative sentinel piglets with sows during the immediate post-partum period. Twelve sentinel piglets were placed in the various farrowing houses for a total period of sixty-seven weeks, during which time 172 sows farrowed. None of these piglets became seropositive during their stay on the breeding farms. The results of this study show that Aujeszky's disease virus did not persist on breeding farms and that the productive infection on fattening farms in only transient following an outbreak. Therefore, it is very likely that new outbreaks of the disease are due to reintroduction of Aujeszky's disease virus on the farm. Though the role of latent carrier animals cannot be totally disregarded, natural reactivation of latent virus is believed an exception rather than the general rule.

Animals↗

PubMed1988

Outbreak of staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome among neonates.

Over a period of 2 months, 12 babies born in the maternity unit at Guy's Hospital developed staphylococcal scalded skin syndrome in two distinct outbreaks. Staphylococci isolated from the babies, together with those from the mothers and attending medical staff were phage-typed. All isolates from the babies were of type 3A/3C. During the first outbreak only one carrier of the epidemic strain (a paediatrician) was found but a further 12 persons were identified as possible carriers during the second outbreak. In order to confirm the link between outbreaks, all phage group II isolates were subjected to reverse phage-typing, testing for metal-ion resistance, plasmid profiling and in-vivo testing for production of epidermolytic toxin. It was shown that the same epidemic strain of toxin-producing Staphylococcus aureus was responsible for both outbreaks. The affected neonates responded rapidly to a short course of intravenous flucloxacillin. The outbreak ceased after appropriate treatment of all carriers and the implementation of an extensive disinfection policy within the maternity unit.

Carrier State↗

PubMed1983

Use of electrophoresis of RNA from human rotavirus to establish the identity of strains involved in outbreaks in a tertiary care nursery.

During two nosocomial outbreaks in a tertiary care nursery, 22 of 102 infants had infections due to human rotavirus (HRV). The time sequence and proximity of the infected infants in the nursery rooms had suggested infant-to-infant spread of a single HRV strain in each outbreak. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of virus permitted demonstration of four different HRV electropherotypes (strains) during the first outbreak period and seven during the second. One of the strains was detected during both outbreaks. All strains had fast-migrating RNA segments 10 and 11. Infant-to-infant spread of at least two different viruses apparently occurred in each outbreak period. Thus, electrophoretic analysis showed that infants in a tertiary care center can be infected with at least 10 different HRV strains within two months, that multiple HRV strains can spread independently and in parallel to different infants as part of a "single" outbreak, and that secondary spread of individual strains can be traced with considerable accuracy.

Cross Infection↗

PubMed1979

[Dimorphous Hansen's disease with outbreaks of Hansen reactions and visceral lesions].

The paper presents the case of a patient with borderline hanseniasis. After a long period of illness, he presented an outbreak with new lesions, that showed reactional tuberculoid aspects; he later presented lesions with clinical and histological aspects of Virchowian hanseniasis. This evolutional type is compatible with the pseudo-exacerbations outbreaks reported by Souza Lima. This patient also presented an Erythema Nodosum outbreak with cutaneous and visceral lesions, the latter occurring with great intensity in the liver parenchyma with clinical manifestations of icterus and hepatomegaly. The pathogenesis of the pseudo-exacerbations outbreaks is discussed, also the special situation of Borderline patients, subject to neurologic injuries during the pseudo-exacerbations outbreaks, and cutaneous, neurological and visceral lesions during the Erythema Nodosum Hansenicum outbreaks.

Erythema Nodosum↗

PubMed1990

Nosocomial outbreak of neonatal gastroenteritis caused by a new serotype 4, subtype 4B human rotavirus.

A nosocomial outbreak of rotavirus gastroenteritis involving 52 newborns occurred between June and September 1988 at the University Children's Hospital of Freiburg, Federal Republic of Germany. Stools from 27 representative patients were examined for rotavirus serotypes, using a monoclonal antibody-based enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The electropherotype was also examined by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of genomic RNA. As many as 18 patients were found to be infected by serotype 4, subtype 4B strain, and in all of them the same electropherotype was detected. Although rotavirus from the remaining nine patients could not be typed, the electropherotype in four was identical to that of the serotype 4, subtype 4B strain. Thus, most of the patients in the outbreak were infected by the same rotavirus strain. Retrospective epidemiological studies showed that the 4B strain began to circulate at the hospital in January 1988, whereas only rotavirus serotypes 1, 3, and 4A were detected in 1985-1987. The primary case of the outbreak was presumably a newborn with acute gastroenteritis, admitted to the hospital from a small maternity unit in the same urban area. During the outbreak, 12 of 44 healthy newborns in the nurseries of the Children's Hospital and other maternity hospitals were found to be asymptomatic rotavirus carriers, and in three of the newborns the same 4B strain was detected. This is the first reported outbreak caused by a serotype 4, subtype 4B strain.

Cross Infection↗

PubMed1984

Silver staining of DNA restriction fragments for the rapid identification of adenovirus isolates: application during nosocomial outbreaks.

The ultrasensitive photochemical silver stain for nucleic acids, described by Beidler et al. (1982), has been applied to the detection of adenovirus restriction fragments as a relatively rapid technique for the identification of virus isolates. In this study, restriction enzyme cleavage analysis was used to characterize adenovirus isolates from what appeared to be two nosocomial outbreaks. The first outbreak was thus shown to include two clusters of patients, and involved two serotypes Ad7c and Ad40. The second outbreak was unrelated and involved Ad35. Although restriction analysis does not replace serum neutralization as a routine method for typing adenoviruses, it is a much more rapid means of discriminating between different patient isolates, providing a current rather than retrospective analysis of a nosocomial outbreak. During the first outbreak, restriction analysis identified two distinct adenovirus serotypes from one patient--Ad7c from a nasopharyngeal aspirate and Ad41 from a stool specimen. Restriction analysis is also valuable for the sub-typing of virus isolates. In this study, the Ad40 and Ad41 isolates were shown to be variants of the respective prototype strains.

Adenoviridae Infections↗

PubMed1987

A hospital outbreak caused by a chlorhexidine and antibiotic-resistant Proteus mirabilis.

An outbreak of urinary-tract infection involving a strain of Proteus mirabilis resistant to gentamicin and several other antibiotics affected 90 patients in Southampton between July 1980 and May 1985. The outbreak strain was also resistant to chlorhexidine and this, in combination with the antibiogram and Dienes' test, permitted differentiation from other P. mirabilis strains. The outbreak had features in common with other Enterobacteriaceae outbreaks, although certain aspects of the population involved have made it particularly difficult to control. The outbreak commenced shortly after the introduction of a catheter care policy which involved the use of chlorhexidine, and although the majority of the cases were colonized before this policy was enforced, chlorhexidine had been used extensively for other procedures within the district. Preliminary evidence suggests that there is no genetic linkage between the chlorhexidine and multiple antibiotic resistance.

Age Factors↗

PubMed1989

Outbreaks of astrovirus type 1 and rotavirus gastroenteritis in a geriatric in-patient population.

Two outbreaks of viral gastroenteritis occurred in seven psychogeriatric wards of a 469-bed psychiatric hospital. The outbreaks occurred over an eight-week period; the first affected 30 people and rotavirus was detected in 12 of 14 persons from whom faecal specimens were available. The second affected 32 people (15 of whom were affected in the previous outbreak) and astrovirus was detected in 5 of the 24 people from whom specimens were available. Specific IgM to astrovirus was demonstrated in 3 patients. The rotavirus outbreak was characterised by a longer duration of illness (mean 4 days), and more severe symptoms; two elderly female patients had severe symptoms over a 14-15 day period but recovered. In the astrovirus outbreak the duration of illness was shorter and symptoms were milder although the attack rate was higher than that observed for rotavirus.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Costs of an outbreak of wound infections in an orthopaedic ward.

An outbreak of serious wound infections occurring in an orthopaedic ward is reported. The outbreak involved 10 patients, all of whom had undergone clean, orthopaedic operative procedures. The outbreak was eventually terminated by discarding five damaged and contaminated mattresses. The costs incurred during this outbreak were calculated using a retrospective comparative study. The infected patients had an average increased hospital stay of 17 days and average increased costs of 2220 pounds. The outbreak demonstrated the high costs of hospital-acquired infection and the need for further investment in infection control programmes.

Beds↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Epidemiologic typing of Enterobacter sakazakii in two neonatal nosocomial outbreaks.

Two unrelated hospital outbreaks of Enterobacter sakazakii, involving meningitis, bacteremia, and colonization of neonates, were investigated. In each of these outbreaks, E. sakazakii was isolated from both patients and dried infant formula. In previous outbreaks, the source and mode of transmission of E. sakazakii in neonatal infections was not determined. In this study, we used a combination of typing methods (plasmid analysis, antibiograms, chromosomal restriction endonuclease analysis, ribotyping, and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis) to evaluate the isolates from each outbreak as to their relatedness. The typing results differed among outbreaks, but in each one, patient and formula isolates shared the same typing pattern. The only exceptions were disk antibiograms, which often varied among colonies selected from each of the isolates. Plasmid analysis, chromosomal restriction endonuclease analysis, ribotyping, and multilocus enzyme electrophoresis all were effective as epidemiological typing methods for E. sakazakii, especially when used in combination. By using this typing scheme, we have confirmed that E. sakazakii from intrinsically contaminated dried infant formula was the source of neonatal infection.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMed2026

Genomic characteristics and tracing analysis of an acute gastroenteritis outbreak associated with rotavirus C in a boarding high school.

BACKGROUND: Rotaviruses are major pathogens of childhood acute gastroenteritis, dominated by rotavirus A (RVA). Outbreaks caused by human rotavirus C (RVC) are rarely reported, and relevant genomic data remain scarce. This genomic investigation of an RVC outbreak improves our understanding of viral diversity and transmission dynamics. METHODS: We performed epidemiological surveys, nucleic acid testing and whole-genome sequencing (WGS) on specimens from a 2025 RVC-associated gastroenteritis outbreak at a Chinese boarding high school. Sequence alignment, phylogenetic and molecular tracing analyses were conducted to explore RVC evolution via point mutation, segment reassortment and genomic recombination. RESULTS: This typical point-source campus outbreak was linked to an indoor student gathering matching the incubation period of RVC. Thirteen RVC FX strains were recovered from 11 rectal swabs and two vomitus samples. Their viral protein (VP) 4 and VP7 sequences shared high homology with Russian reference strains, carrying distinct amino acid variations. No segment reassortment or recombination was detected in VP4/VP7 genes. CONCLUSIONS: Dense, closed campus settings facilitate RVC clustered transmission. Limitations included absent screening of asymptomatic canteen staff. Rapid nucleic acid testing enabled timely pathogen identification for outbreak control. Greater attention should be paid to the public health risk of RVC. These whole-genome sequencing data enrich resources for studying RVC evolution and vaccine development.

Acute gastroenteritis outbreak↗

PubMed1987

A nursery outbreak of group A streptococcal infection.

We report an outbreak of 23 neonatal group A streptococcal infections including two cases of septicaemia in a nursery for the newborn. At the same time, 19 mothers had puerperal endometritis. The outbreak lasted for about 2 months and could not be eradicated by ordinary hygienic measures. In a colonisation study, 19 of 90 umbilical stumps studied on the day of discharge from hospital harboured group A streptococci, all of the same epidemic strain T28 provisional M-type 2841/opacity factor positive (T28/MPT2841/OF+). Chlorhexidine gluconate was therefore applied daily to the umbilical stumps. The outbreak came to an end with the introduction of this procedure. The time interval between delivery and recognition of infection was shorter in infants than in mothers. There were also only two infected mother-infant pairs. Taken together, this suggests that infected umbilical stumps on symptomless infants were a likely source of the maternal infections. Throughout 1 year from the introduction of the chlorhexidine treatment, we have not seen a case of group A streptococcal infection in neonates. Surveillance cultures from umbilical cords after the outbreak have also been negative. We conclude that bacteriological surveillance of umbilical stumps is valuable in recognising an outbreak and should be seriously considered when a group A streptococcal infection has been recorded in a nursery.

Disease Outbreaks↗

PubMed1989

The presence of M proteins in outbreak strains of Streptococcus equisimilis T-type 204.

Cultures of Streptococcus equisimilis (Lancefield group C) from three outbreaks of illness were found to carry the T-protein antigen 204. Strains of this type were not otherwise represented in a collection of 743 cultures of these 'pyogenes-like' streptococci isolated from other outbreaks of infection or as random isolates. Two of the three outbreaks were of pharyngitis. The third arose in a maternity unit where the organism was isolated from mothers with puerperal fever, from staff and also from the environment. Representative strains were found to carry M-protein antigens as judged by their ability to survive and multiply in fresh normal human blood. Comparison of absorbed rabbit antiserum to the M antigens in opsonic and precipitin tests showed that a distinct M antigen was present on isolates from one outbreak of sore throat and that all cultures from the other two incidents shared a common M antigen. Samples of serum were also available from patients in the outbreak of puerperal sepsis. Most patients developed antibodies to one or more streptococcal antigens including the M protein, streptolysin O, streptokinase and the hyaluronidase specific for strains of group C and group G streptococci.

Antigens, Bacterial↗

PubMed1992

Measles: lessons from an outbreak.

BACKGROUND: Measles outbreaks continue to be a problem for infection control in hospitals--patients, personnel, and employee health service. Guidelines for measles outbreaks are not clear for medical personnel in the hospital. METHODS: Outbreak investigation in a university-affiliated teaching hospital. RESULTS: Four primary cases resulted in 607 staff exposures and two secondary cases. Forty-seven medical personnel were furloughed and 88 were vaccinated for measles. Minimal serologic criteria for immunity were found to be inadequate in the outbreak setting. CONCLUSIONS: We found that serologic guidelines for assessing immunity to measles are inadequate. During the outbreak, we arbitrarily doubled the acceptable enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay titers that we would consider protective, > or = 2, to decrease the possibility of further secondary cases. Employees with enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay measles titers less than 2 and without a definite history of natural measles were revaccinated with a measles vaccine. This strategy takes advantage of the anamnestic response that revaccination would confer in persons with low antibody titer.

Adult↗

PubMed2025

Investigation of a Mycobacterium fortuitum prosthetic joint infection outbreak at two ambulatory surgery centers in Tennessee.

OBJECTIVE: This study outlines the investigation into an outbreak of Mycobacterium fortuitum infections involving 17 cases undergoing hip or knee surgeries at two ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) in Tennessee from January 2023 to November 2024. Notably, the outbreak could not be attributed to contaminated water sources, which are typically associated with non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) outbreaks, presenting a unique challenge. METHODS: Outbreak investigation steps included Infection Prevention (IP) assessments, case-control study, environmental sampling, whole genome sequencing, and a healthcare personnel (HCP) exposure questionnaire. RESULTS: IP assessment highlighted several concerns, including no formal facility water management program (WMP), a lack of dedicated IP personnel and certified sterile processing staff, the absence of a formalized system for tracking surgical site infections, and a notable gap in understanding the requirements for reporting diseases. The case-control findings revealed a significant association between the presence of a surgical technologist in the operating room during the procedures and the occurrence of NTM infections, indicated by an odds ratio of 55.77 (95% CI [3.16-985.44]; P = 0.0097). Thirteen clinical isolates collected at one ASC and three additional isolates collected at a second ASC were highly related by whole genome sequencing. CONCLUSION: The study further elucidates valuable insights gained from the outbreak response, including the gaps in surveillance within the ambulatory surgical setting and systematic collection of cultures from environmental sources. It emphasizes the importance of thorough vetting, onboarding, continuing education, and practice monitoring for HCP.

Humans↗