Outbreak of Occupational Brucellosis in a Laboratory Technician at Her Royal Highness Princess Sirindhorn Medical Center, Srinakharinwirot University, Thailand
Tantisiriwat, W.; Buppanharun, W.; Santiwatanakul, S.; Chansiri, K.
Journal of the Medical Association of Thailand 99 Suppl. 8: S158-S165
2016
ISSN/ISBN: 0125-2208 PMID: 29905995 Document Number: 17441
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. 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. 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 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.