title: An outbreak of foodborne streptococcal throat infection.
abstract: Streptococcal pharyngitis is a common disease of epidemic nature, usually transmitted by saliva droplets. We present an epidemiologic analysis of an outbreak of streptococcal pharyngitis in a military unit involving 75 soldiers. The causing organism was Streptococcus pyogenes (group A beta hemolytic Streptococcus, T28 M56), which was isolated from 53 affected individuals. The source of the epidemic was probably an army cook. The infection was transferred by a cabbage salad to individuals who became symptomatic within 24-48 h. This epidemic is a reminder of an exceptional route of streptococcal dissemination and one of the largest outbreaks of foodborne streptococcal pharyngitis documented.
authors.affiliation: Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps, Tel-Hashomer.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Shemesh
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fischel
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Goldstein
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alkan
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Livneh
mesh_terms: D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005517:Foodborne Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology*; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel / Q000453:epidemiology; D008889:Military Personnel; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes