In January,2004 an explosive epidemic of pharyngitis occured among the staff working atIntensive Care Units and Operation Rooms of Türkiye Yüksek İhtisas Teaching Hospital, The symptoms were indistinguishable from those of group A streptococcal pharyngitis. Sore throat and weakness were the prominent symptoms in (91% and 87%, of patients respectively). In a two-day period, throat cultures were taken from 377 personnel and 121 (32%) of them were found to be positive for group-G beta-hemolytic streptococci. The configuration of the epidemic curve suggested a common source of exposure. Respiratory spread of streptococci in such a rapid fashion would be unlikely. Sixteen of the 121 positive throat cultures were obtained from the staff of the catering firm which provided the food services for the hospital staff. Most of these catering firm personnel were serving the departments where the epidemic occured. With these data, the outbreak was considered to be foodborne. PFGE analysis of randomly selected 40 (including the 16 strains isolated from the catering firm personnel) strains showed only one digestion pattern. Prompt treatment with penicillin was given to all the sick personnel and a 9-day religious holiday approaching consequently terminated the outbreak. Control cultures were negative for all the subjects.
Keywords: Group G Shreptococci, outbreak, PFGE
