Laboratory exposure to Brucella melitensis in Denmark: a prospective study.
Brucella species are a frequent cause of laboratory-acquired infections. This report describes the handling of a laboratory exposure of 17 laboratory staff members exposed to Brucella melitensis in a large microbiology laboratory in a brucella-non-endemic area. We followed the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidelines, but, of 14 staff members classified as high-risk exposure, none accepted post-exposure prophylaxis. However, in a period of 6 months of follow-up, none of the exposed laboratory workers developed brucellosis and all obtained sera were negative for antibrucella antibodies. We therefore question the value of routine serological follow-up.
Department of Infectious Diseases, Hvidovre University Hospital, Hvidovre, Denmark. Electronic address: andreas.knudsen@hvh.regionh.dk.
A
A
Knudsen
G
G
Kronborg
J
J
Dahl Knudsen
A-M
AM
Lebech
D000328:Adult; D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial / Q000097:blood*; D017347:Brucella melitensis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002006:Brucellosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003718:Denmark / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006801:Humans; D007755:Laboratories, Hospital; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011247:Pregnancy; D011446:Prospective Studies; D055815:Young Adult
D000907:Antibodies, Bacterial
Brucella melitensis; Brucellosis; Laboratory exposure; Post-exposure prophylaxis