Brucella abortus infection acquired in microbiology laboratories.
We report an outbreak of laboratory-acquired Brucella abortus infection originating in the accidental breakage of a centrifuge tube. A total of 12 laboratory workers were infected (attack rate of 31%), with an incubation time ranging from 6 weeks to 5 months. Antibody titers were evaluated weekly in all personnel exposed, allowing the diagnosis of the infection in most cases before the onset of clinical symptoms, so that specific therapy could be administrated.
Fiori
P L
PL
Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche, Sezione di Microbiologia Sperimentale e Clinica, Università di Sassari, 07100 Sassari, Italy. fioripl@ssmain.uniss.it
Mastrandrea
S
S
Rappelli
P
P
Cappuccinelli
P
P
D000062:Accidents, Occupational; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood; D002003:Brucella abortus; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000276:immunology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D017056:Medical Laboratory Personnel; D008829:Microbiology; D013997:Time Factors
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial