title: Outbreak among drug users caused by a clonal strain of group A streptococcus.
abstract: We describe an outbreak among drug users of severe soft-tissue infections caused by a clonal strain of group A streptococcus of M-type 25. Cases (n = 19) in drug users were defined as infections (mainly needle abscesses) due to the outbreak strain. Comparison with controls showed that infected drug users bought drugs more often at a specific place. Drug purchase and use habits may have contributed to this outbreak.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Medical Microbiology, Berne, Switzerland.
authors.forename: L M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Böhlen
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mühlemann
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Dubuis
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Aebi
authors.forename: M G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Täuber
mesh_terms: D000038:Abscess / Q000209:etiology; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009339:Needles / Q000009:adverse effects; D012307:Risk Factors; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications*; D013557:Switzerland / Q000453:epidemiology