Outbreak of Sporotrichosis among Tree Nursery Workers

In spring 1994, an outbreak of sporotrichosis occurred at a tree nursery in Florida; 9 (14%) of 65 workers involved in production of sphagnum moss topiaries developed lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis. A cohort study of all 65 employees was conducted to identify risk factors for sporotrichosis, and an...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of infectious diseases 1997-08, Vol.176 (2), p.499-504
Main Authors: Hajjeh, Rana, McDonnell, Sharon, Reef, Susan, Licitra, Carmelo, Hankins, Michael, Toth, Bill, Padhye, Arvind, Kaufman, Leo, Pasarell, Lester, Cooper, Chester, Hutwagner, Lori, Hopkins, Richard, McNeil, Michael
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adult
Agricultural Workers' Diseases - epidemiology
Agricultural Workers' Diseases - microbiology
Antibodies, Fungal - blood
Antifungal Agents - therapeutic use
Biological and medical sciences
Bryopsida - microbiology
Cohort Studies
Disease Outbreaks
DNA, Fungal - genetics
Entertainment
Epidemiology
Female
Florida - epidemiology
Fungal diseases
Fungal infections
Hands
Human mycoses
Humans
Infectious diseases
Itraconazole - therapeutic use
Lesions
Lymphangitis - microbiology
Major Articles
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Mosses
Mycoses
Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
Potassium Iodide - therapeutic use
Risk Factors
Skin - microbiology
Sphagnum
Sporothrix - genetics
Sporothrix - isolation & purification
Sporothrix schenckii
Sporotrichosis
Sporotrichosis - drug therapy
Sporotrichosis - epidemiology
Sporotrichosis - microbiology
Topiary
Trees
Tropical mycoses
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Summary:In spring 1994, an outbreak of sporotrichosis occurred at a tree nursery in Florida; 9 (14%) of 65 workers involved in production of sphagnum moss topiaries developed lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis. A cohort study of all 65 employees was conducted to identify risk factors for sporotrichosis, and an environmental investigation was done. The risk of sporotrichosis increased significantly with the duration of working with sphagnum moss (P < .05), in particular with filling topiaries (P < .05), and with having less gardening experience (P < .05). Wearing gloves was protective (P < .005). Sporothrix schenckii was cultured from patients and sphagnum moss used in topiary production. Use of restriction fragment length polymorphism revealed an identical pattern for patient isolates that was different from the patterns of environmental isolates. Physicians should be aware of sporotrichosis in patients with ulcerative skin lesions who have a history of occupational or recreational exposure to sphagnum moss.
ISSN:0022-1899
1537-6613
DOI:10.1086/514070