A large outbreak of Trichophyton tonsurans among health care workers in a pediatric hospital
published online 21 May 2008.
Background
Although Trichophyton tonsurans remains a major cause of dermataophytoses in US children, nosocomial spread may go unrecognized in health care settings. We describe a staff outbreak of T tonsurans infection among health care workers in a freestanding pediatric hospital.
Methods
Epidemiologic evaluation (retrospective and prospective) was performed in the health care providers and ancillary staff assigned to a 27-bed inpatient medical unit in which the suspected outbreak occurred.
Results
Twenty-one individuals, including staff, a hospital volunteer, and a patient, developed tinea corporis during a 5-month period. All infections coincided with multiple admissions of a 2-year-old suspected index patient who demonstrated persistent infections of the scalp and arm. Fungal isolates obtained from the index patient and affected staff (when available) were subjected to multilocus strain typing, which revealed an identical genetic match between the index case and infected hospital personnel.
Conclusion
T tonsurans can spread widely among staff members caring for children with recalcitrant dermatophyte infections. Recognition that workplace transmission may be the etiology of a succession of infections occurring in a single inpatient unit is necessary to limit the number of infected individuals.
aDepartment of Nursing, Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, Kansas City, Missouri
bDivision of Infection Control, Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, Kansas City, Missouri
cDivision of Pediatric Clinical Pharmacology, Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, Kansas City, Missouri
dSchool of Medicine, University of Missouri Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri
Address correspondence to Jodi Shroba RN, MSN, CPNP, Children's Mercy Hospitals and Clinics, 2401 Gillham Road, Kansas City, MO 64108.
Supported in part by a grant from the National Institutes of Health (R21 AR053234). The authors have no conflicts of interest to report.
ABSTRACT