Possible Nosocomial Transmission of Group Y Neisseria meningitidis Among Oncology Patients

Publisher Website
Google Scholar
Abstract
Within 4 days, 2 oncology patients in a clinical research unit had bacteremia caused by group Y N. meningitidis. Three additional patients, identified by prevalence survey, had nasopharyngeal colonization with that serogroup, compared with only 1 employee (not associated with patients) and no family contacts. Infected and colonized (case) patients were located in the same or adjacent rooms but did not have close contact. A comparison of host and risk factors showed no significant differences between case patients and the other (control) patients located in the same rooms. The index patient, who had marked sputum production but was not isolated, had unrecognized meningococcal pneumonia and probably was the hospital source of a heavy airborne dispersal of organisms to other patients. Respiratory isolation is warranted for patients with suspected N. meningitidis infection.

This publication has 10 references indexed in Scilit: