Whirlpool-associated folliculitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa: report of an outbreak and review.
An outbreak of folliculitis caused by Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotype O:7 occurred among the guests of a hotel in St. John's, Newfoundland, Canada, and the source of the infection was traced to the hotel whirlpool. Of 36 persons who used the whirlpool, 26 (72%) developed folliculitis within 1 to 5 days after exposure; the attack rate was significantly higher for children (90%) than for adults (50%). The rash characteristics were consistent with those of Pseudomonas folliculitis previously described (T. L. Gustafson, J. D. Band, R. H. Hutcheson, Jr., and W. Schaffner, Rev. Infect. Dis. 5:1-8, 1983). This is considered to be the first outbreak in which P. aeruginosa serotype O:7 has been incriminated. Published reports to date of outbreaks of Pseudomonas folliculitis associated with the use of whirlpools, hot tubs, swimming pools, etc., were reviewed.
Ratnam
S
S
Hogan
K
K
March
S B
SB
Butler
R W
RW
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001966:Bromine; D002170:Canada; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002713:Chlorine; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005499:Folliculitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D006875:Hydrotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011998:Recreation; D013551:Swimming Pools; D013997:Time Factors; D014481:United States; D014871:Water Microbiology
D002713:Chlorine; D001966:Bromine