title: Nosocomial Cholera Outbreak in a Mental Hospital: Challenges and Lessons Learnt from Butabika National Referral Mental Hospital, Uganda.
abstract: During the last four decades, Uganda has experienced repeated cholera outbreaks in communities; no cholera outbreaks have been reported in Ugandan health facilities. In October 2008, a unique cholera outbreak was confirmed in Butabika National Mental Referral Hospital (BNMRH), Uganda. This article describes actions taken to control the outbreak, challenges, and lessons learnt. We reviewed patient and hospital reports for clinical symptoms and signs, treatment and outcome, patient mental diagnosis, and challenges noted during management of patients and contacts. Out of 114 BNMRH patients on two affected wards, 18 cholera cases and five deaths were documented for an attack rate of 15.8% and a case fatality rate of 28%. Wards and surroundings were intensively disinfected and 96 contacts (psychiatric patients) in the affected wards received chemoprophylaxis with oral ciprofloxacin 500 mg twice daily until November 5, 2008. We documented a nosocomial cholera outbreak in BNMRH with a high case fatality of 28% compared with the national average of 2.4% for cholera outbreaks in communities. To avoid cholera outbreaks and potentially high mortality among patients in mental institutions, procedures for prompt diagnosis, treatment, disinfection, and prophylaxis are needed and preemptive use of oral cholera vaccines should be considered.
authors.affiliation: Control of Diarrheal Diseases Section, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Epidemiological Surveillance Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Central Public Health Laboratory, Kampala, Uganda; Agence de Médicine Préventive, Paris, France; Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Godfrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bwire
authors.affiliation: Control of Diarrheal Diseases Section, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Epidemiological Surveillance Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Central Public Health Laboratory, Kampala, Uganda; Agence de Médicine Préventive, Paris, France; Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Mugagga
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Malimbo
authors.affiliation: Control of Diarrheal Diseases Section, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Epidemiological Surveillance Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Central Public Health Laboratory, Kampala, Uganda; Agence de Médicine Préventive, Paris, France; Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Atek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kagirita
authors.affiliation: Control of Diarrheal Diseases Section, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Epidemiological Surveillance Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Central Public Health Laboratory, Kampala, Uganda; Agence de Médicine Préventive, Paris, France; Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Issa
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Makumbi
authors.affiliation: Control of Diarrheal Diseases Section, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Epidemiological Surveillance Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Central Public Health Laboratory, Kampala, Uganda; Agence de Médicine Préventive, Paris, France; Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda emintz@cdc.gov.
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Mintz
authors.affiliation: Control of Diarrheal Diseases Section, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Epidemiological Surveillance Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Central Public Health Laboratory, Kampala, Uganda; Agence de Médicine Préventive, Paris, France; Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Martin A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Mengel
authors.affiliation: Control of Diarrheal Diseases Section, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; Epidemiological Surveillance Division, Ministry of Health, Kampala, Uganda; U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia; Central Public Health Laboratory, Kampala, Uganda; Agence de Médicine Préventive, Paris, France; Makerere University School of Public Health, Kampala, Uganda.
authors.forename: Christopher Garimoi
authors.initials: CG
authors.lastname: Orach
mesh_terms: D002771:Cholera / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000401:mortality; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D006778:Hospitals, Psychiatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000150:complications; D014454:Uganda / Q000453:epidemiology