title: Outbreak of Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis associated with mebendazole and metronidazole use among Filipino laborers in Taiwan.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study sought to identify the risk factors associated with an outbreak of Stevens-Johnson syndrome/toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN) among Filipino laborers in Taiwan.
  
  
  METHODS
  Forty-six SJS/TEN patients were matched to 92 controls according to month of arrival in Taiwan, sex, and age.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The odds ratio for development of SJS/TEN was 9.5 (95% confidence interval [CI] = 3.9, 23.9) among workers who had used both metronidazole and mebendazole sometime in the preceding 6 weeks. In addition, a gradient increase in the occurrence of SJS/TEN was found with an increasing level of exposure to metronidazole.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This outbreak highlights the risk of SJS/TEN resulting from the use of both metronidazole and mebendazole and the need for control measures.
authors.affiliation: Field Epidemiology Training Program, Center for Disease Control, Department of Health, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China.
authors.forename: Kow-Tong
authors.initials: KT
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shiing-Jer
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Twu
authors.forename: Hong-Jen
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Chang
authors.forename: Ruey-Shiung
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Lin
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000969:Antinematodal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000994:Antitrichomonal Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008463:Mebendazole / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008795:Metronidazole / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010679:Philippines / Q000208:ethnology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013262:Stevens-Johnson Syndrome / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000209:etiology*; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000969:Antinematodal Agents; D000994:Antitrichomonal Agents; D008795:Metronidazole; D008463:Mebendazole