title: An outbreak of food-borne group A Streptococcus (GAS) tonsillopharyngitis among residents of a dormitory.
abstract: Epidemics of food-borne pharyngitis due to group A Streptococcus are rarely reported. Here we present an outbreak of food-borne tonsillopharyngitis in female dormitories in the Islamic Republic of Iran. Throat swabs and cultures were performed on a number of patients, and of specimens from the nasopharynx and hands of staff who were involved in food processing. We planned a case-control study for assessing the source of epidemics. 11 out of 17 throat swabs of students were positive for Streptococcus group A and also 2 throat samples from asymptomatic cooks were positive. A DNA fingerprinting study showed that Streptococcus group A strains of 11 students and 1 cook had the same T agglutination pattern and M protein factor (M3/T13). It is suggested that group A streptococci as well as group C and G streptococci can cause epidemic food-borne pharyngitis. Regular health surveillance of food handlers and food preparation processes are important for prevention of such outbreaks.
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Imam Reza General Hospital, School of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Iran.
authors.forename: M R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Sarvghad
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Naderi
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Naderi-Nassab
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Majdzadeh
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Javanian
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Faramarzi
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fatehmanesh
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D005260:Female; D005516:Food Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D008297:Male; D010612:Pharyngitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013334:Students; D014069:Tonsillitis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014495:Universities