An outbreak of acute respiratory disease caused by Mycoplasma pneumoniae and adenovirus at a federal service training academy: new implications from an old scenario.
Outbreaks of Mycoplasma pneumoniae and adenovirus have been reported in military institutions for several decades. During a recent outbreak in a federal service training academy, we performed an epidemiological and laboratory investigation to better characterize and control the outbreak. Of 586 students responding to a questionnaire, 317 (54%) reported having a respiratory illness during the outbreak period. Among 42 students who underwent complete laboratory testing, 24 (57%) had evidence of M. pneumoniae infection, 8 (19%) had evidence of adenovirus infection, and 4 (10%) had evidence of both. Polymerase chain reaction testing of oropharyngeal swabs revealed more acute M. pneumoniae infections (57% positive) than did serology or culture. Multivariate analysis revealed that visiting the campus health clinic >3 times for a nonrespiratory condition, such as injury, was a significant risk factor for illness among freshmen early in the course of the outbreak, whereas having an ill roommate was a risk factor throughout the duration of the outbreak.
Feikin
D R
DR
Respiratory Diseases Branch, Division of Bacterial and Mycotic Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA.
Moroney
J F
JF
Talkington
D F
DF
Thacker
W L
WL
Code
J E
JE
Schwartz
L A
LA
Erdman
D D
DD
Butler
J C
JC
Cetron
M S
MS
D000208:Acute Disease; D000256:Adenoviridae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D000257:Adenoviridae Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000821:virology; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009177:Mycoplasma pneumoniae / Q000235:genetics / Q000276:immunology; D011019:Pneumonia, Mycoplasma / Q000150:complications* / Q000382:microbiology; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012141:Respiratory Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012698:Serologic Tests; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires