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A Cluster of Surgical Wound Infections due to Unrelated Strains of Group A Streptococci

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

F.B. Jamieson ,
K. Green ,
D.E. Low ,
A.E. Simor ,
C. Goldman ,
J. Ng  and
A. McGeer
F.B. Jamieson
Affiliation:
Departments of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
K. Green
Affiliation:
Departments of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
D.E. Low*
Affiliation:
Departments of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
A.E. Simor
Affiliation:
Departments of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
C. Goldman
Affiliation:
Departments of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
J. Ng
Affiliation:
Departments of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
A. McGeer*
Affiliation:
Departments of Microbiology, Mount Sinai Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario Princess Margaret Hospital, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario
*
A cluster of surgical wound infections due to unrelated strains ofgroup A streptococci. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1993;14:265-267.
Depatiment of Microbiology, Princess Margaret Hospital, 500 Sherbourne St., Toronto, Ontario, CanadaM4X 1K9
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Abstract

Group A streptococci account for less than 1% of all surgical wound infections but are an important cause of nosocomial outbreaks. We report here a cluster of four group A streptococcal infections that occurred within an 11-day period on a single surgical service. The index case presented with toxic shock-like syndrome. Epidemiologic investigation did not identify any relationship between infections. Restriction endonuclease analysis and M and T typing found the four isolates to be unrelated. Restriction endonuclease analysis is a useful tool for determining relatedness of nosocomial isolates of group A streptococci.

Type
Brief Report
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 14 , Issue 5 , May 1993 , pp. 265 - 267
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1993

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