An outbreak of food-borne group A Streptococcus (GAS) tonsillopharyngitis among residents of a dormitory

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of infectious diseases 2005, Vol.37 (9), p.647-650
• Main Authors: Sarvghad, M.R., Naderi, H.R., Naderi-Nassab, M., Majdzadeh, R., Javanian, M., Faramarzi, H., Fatehmanesh, P.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Bacterial diseases; Biological and medical sciences; Disease Outbreaks; Female; Food Microbiology; Human bacterial diseases; Humans; Infectious diseases; Iran; Male; Medical sciences; Pharyngitis - epidemiology; Pharyngitis - microbiology; Staphylococcal infections, streptococcal infections, pneumococcal infections; Streptococcal Infections - epidemiology; Streptococcal Infections - microbiology; Streptococcus pyogenes - isolation & purification; Students; Tonsillitis - epidemiology; Tonsillitis - microbiology; Universities
• ISSN: 0036-5548; 1651-1980
• DOI: 10.1080/00365540510044085

Epidemics of food-borne pharyngitis due to group A Streptococcus are rarely reported. Here we present an outbreak of food-borne tonsillopharyngitis in female dormitories in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Throat swabs and cultures were performed on a number of patients, and of specimens from the nasopharynx and hands of staff who were involved in food processing. We planned a case-control study for assessing the source of epidemics. 11 out of 17 throat swabs of students were positive for Streptococcus group A and also 2 throat samples from asymptomatic cooks were positive. A DNA fingerprinting study showed that Streptococcus group A strains of 11 students and 1 cook had the same T agglutination pattern and M protein factor (M3/T13). It is suggested that group A streptococci as well as group C and G streptococci can cause epidemic food-borne pharyngitis. Regular health surveillance of food handlers and food preparation processes are important for prevention of such outbreaks.