Group A streptococcal outbreak in a geriatric mental health unit

Halima Dabaja Younis; Jennie Johnstone; Irene Armstrong; Eric E Brown; Alyssa Golden; Averil Griffith; Irene Martin; Karen Donnait; Mahad Nur; Elnathan Mesfin; Julianne V Kus; Allison McGeer; Renee Logan

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2024.06.011

Group A streptococcal outbreak in a geriatric mental health unit

Am J Infect Control. 2024 Oct;52(10):1215-1218. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2024.06.011. Epub 2024 Jun 24.

Authors

Affiliations

¹ Infection Prevention and Control Unit, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Electronic address: h.dabajayounis@gmail.com.
² Infection Prevention and Control Unit, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Microbiology, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
³ Toronto Public Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁴ Department of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁵ National Microbiology Laboratory, Public Health Agency of Canada, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
⁶ Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁷ Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Public Health Ontario, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
⁸ Department of Microbiology, Sinai Health, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

PMID: 38925503
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2024.06.011

Abstract

We report a group A streptococcal outbreak in a geriatric mental health inpatient unit. Communication with cognitively impaired patients, limitations in adherence to hygiene practices, and communal dining may have facilitated transmission. Settle plates aided in identifying a colonized patient. Rapid access to whole-genome sequencing facilitated assessment and management.

Keywords: Group A streptococcus; Settle plates; Streptococcus pyogenes; Whole-genome sequencing.

MeSH terms

Aged
Aged, 80 and over
Cross Infection / epidemiology
Cross Infection / microbiology
Disease Outbreaks*
Female
Humans
Male
Streptococcal Infections* / epidemiology
Streptococcal Infections* / microbiology
Streptococcus pyogenes* / genetics
Streptococcus pyogenes* / isolation & purification
Whole Genome Sequencing