Publication: Outbreak of Occupational Brucellosis in a Laboratory Technician at Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn Medical Center, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand
0
0
Issued Date
2016
Resource Type
File Type
application/pdf
ISSN
1252208
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-85049391882
Rights Holder(s)
มหาวิทยาลัยศรีนครินทรวิโรฒ
Bibliographic Citation
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet. Vol 99, (2016), p.S158-S165
Suggested Citation
Tantisiriwat W., Buppanharun W., Santiwatanakul S., Chansiri K. Outbreak of Occupational Brucellosis in a Laboratory Technician at Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn Medical Center, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand. Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand = Chotmaihet thangphaet. Vol 99, (2016), p.S158-S165. Retrieved from: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.14740/4957
Abstract
Objective: To document laboratory transmission of brucellosis and identify the likely mechanism of transmission of brucellosis at Her Royal Highness (HRH) Princess Sirindhorn Medical Center, Thailand.Material and Method: Using small subunit ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing technique to analyze Brucella melitensis cultured from the first 2 patients of the hospital and an infected laboratory technician, and using brucellosis serologic test to rule out infections in all other involved technicians.Results: We had encountered the first 2 cases of brucellosis. Both had infected from community exposure with goat. The first case had pancreatic abscess and spinal bone involvement with a positive blood culture. The second case presented with fever of unknown origin and had a positive blood culture. A few weeks later, 1 of our laboratory technicians presented with fever, myalgia and fatigue. Blood culture grew B. melitensis. He never had any associated community-acquired risk factors for brucellosis. The presumed mechanism of transmission was an inhalation while taking photographs of the bacterial plate of the first patient. B. melitensis identified from our laboratory technician and both patients were analyzed based on 16S-23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Results of 16S-23S rRNA ITS sequence testing confirmed a match from all patients and laboratory technician’s isolate. All other 10 potentially exposed laboratory technicians were asymptomatic. A brucellosis serologic test was negative in all non-infected technicians but was only positive in the 1 infected technician.Conclusion: This is the first report in Thailand of occupational brucellosis transmitted in microbiologic laboratory. The most likely mechanism is air-borne inhalation of bacterial organisms on culture media in the absence of adequate precautions. Laboratory technicians should handle Brucella cultivation with caution utilizing appropriate measures to prevent inhalation.
Subject(s)
Bacterial RNA
Animal
Brucellosis
Epidemic
Female
Goat
Goat disease
Hospital
Human
Laboratory personnel
Male
Microbiology
Occupational disease
Pathology
Thailand
Transmission
Animals
Brucellosis
Disease Outbreaks
Female
Goat Diseases
Goats
Hospitals
Humans
Laboratory Personnel
Male
Occupational Diseases
RNA, Bacterial
Thailand
Animal
Brucellosis
Epidemic
Female
Goat
Goat disease
Hospital
Human
Laboratory personnel
Male
Microbiology
Occupational disease
Pathology
Thailand
Transmission
Animals
Brucellosis
Disease Outbreaks
Female
Goat Diseases
Goats
Hospitals
Humans
Laboratory Personnel
Male
Occupational Diseases
RNA, Bacterial
Thailand