Table 2

Outbreak of S. aureus in Robesonia, PA.

Patient
Onset of disease
Age/sex
Occupancy
Presentation

1
Feb 93
15♂
resident
furunclea
2
Jul/Aug 93
87♀
resident
furuncleb
3
Jul 94
40♂
visitor
furunclesa,c
4
Aug 94
66♀
visitor
foliculitis
1
Mar 95
17♂
resident
pneumonia
5
Jun/Jul 95
37♀
visitor
furunclesd
6
Aug 95
7♀
visitor
furuncleb
7
Dec 95
16♂
resident
furunclec
8
Sep/Oct 97
46♂
resident
furunclese,f

Recurrent Staphylococcus aureus infections developed in a Robesonia, PA household over a 5-yr period after Class B biosolids were applied several times a week on a yearly basis to a nearby farm. Patients 1, 7, and 8 correspond with Residents 39, 40, and 41, respectively (Table 1). Patient 1 developed a S. aureus furuncle on one knee then, two years later, succumbed to S. aureus pneumonia.

a knee; b leg; c thigh; d nose, arm, abdomen, buttocks; e neck, chin; f chest

Lewis et al. BMC Public Health 2002 2:11   doi:10.1186/1471-2458-2-11