title: Evaluation of an intervention program for the control of an outbreak of shigellosis among institutionalized persons.
abstract: After control measures were initiated to stop an outbreak of shigellosis in an institution for the developmentally disabled, there was a sharp decline in the number of cases of Shigella sonnei infection. Among ill residents, those treated with antibiotics had shorter mean duration of diarrhea (2.4 vs. 4.5 days, P < .01) and were less likely to have stool cultures positive for shigellae 2-4 weeks after onset of diarrhea (0/25 vs. 5/19; relative risk [RR] = undefined; P = .02). The attack rate was higher in villages where segregation of ill residents was not practiced (46/73 vs. 53/155; RR = 1.8; 95% confidence limits [CL], 1.4, 2.4). In individual housing units where ill residents were not segregated (preintervention), a correlation was found between mean duration of diarrhea and unit attack rates (r = .88; 95% CL, 0.29, 0.99). A study of all 305 residents 10 weeks after the intervention began revealed no positive stool cultures.
authors.affiliation: Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals, Office of Public Health, New Orleans.
authors.forename: F J
authors.initials: FJ
authors.lastname: Mahoney
authors.forename: T A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Farley
authors.forename: D F
authors.initials: DF
authors.lastname: Burbank
authors.forename: N H
authors.initials: NH
authors.lastname: Leslie
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: McFarland
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D006233:Persons with Disabilities; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004405:Dysentery, Bacillary / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007325:Institutional Practice; D007326:Institutionalization; D008134:Long-Term Care; D008145:Louisiana / Q000453:epidemiology; D010356:Patient Isolation; D012764:Shigella sonnei / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination / Q000627:therapeutic use
chemical_list: D015662:Trimethoprim, Sulfamethoxazole Drug Combination