Primary Article

Type 8 Pneumococcal Pneumonia: An Outbreak on an Oncology Ward

Authors: STEVEN L. BERK MD, KATHLEEN A. GAGE MD, SHIRLEY A. HOLTSCLAW-BERK MS, J KELLY SMITH MD

Abstract

ABSTRACT: An outbreak of four cases of type 8 Streptococcus pneumoniae pneumonia occurred on an Oncology Ward during a five-day period. All four patients had underlying malignancy and were in close proximity to each other on an open ward. No other patients or hospital personnel had type 8 S pneumoniae on throat or nasopharyngeal cultures. The implications of the outbreak with respect to transmission of this disease and role of pneumococcal vaccination are discussed.

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