Extensive transmission of Mycobacterium tuberculosis from a child

Article Abstract:

Researchers report the case of a nine-year-old child who apparently transmitted tuberculosis to many people. This is very unusual because children with tuberculosis are usually not infectious. He was identified after tuberculosis was diagnosed in his female guardian. The child had originally come from the Republic of the Marshall Islands two years before and was the only possible source of the woman's infection. Further testing revealed that he had transmitted the bacterium that caused tuberculosis to three other household members, 16 classmates, 10 children who rode the same school bus, and 9 day-care providers.

Pediatric diseases, Children, Diseases

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A nosocomial outbreak of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis

Article Abstract:

Wearing respirators when caring for tuberculosis patients may not be sufficient to prevent spread to other patients or health care workers. Isolation rooms where air pressure is negative to the hall and room air is rapidly turned over may be necessary. Researchers investigated a hospital outbreak of tuberculosis in six patients and one health care worker, all of whom had AIDS. The same strain of bacteria infected all seven. Eleven of 74 exposed health care workers developed positive tuberculin skin tests. Persons testing negative were as likely to report consistent respirator use as persons testing positive.

Nosocomial infections, Cross infection

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An outbreak involving extensive transmission of a virulent strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis

Article Abstract:

A tuberculosis outbreak in rural Tennessee and Kentucky may have been caused by a particularly virulent strain of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Researchers report the infection of 21 patients from 1994 to 1996 with genetically identical tuberculosis bacteria. Three patients infected the others, in some cases after brief, casual contact. The bacteria responsible for the outbreak grew extremely rapidly in the lungs of laboratory mice that were infected with it. The extensive transmission of tuberculosis in this outbreak may have resulted from the rapid growth of the bacteria in infected patients.

Analysis, Epidemics

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