Streptococcus pneumoniae Serotype 15A in Psychiatric Unit, Rhode Island, USA, 2010–2011

Katherine Fleming-Dutra

, Chukwuma Mbaeyi, Ruth Link-Gelles, Nicole Alexander, Alice Guh, Elizabeth Forbes, Bernard Beall, Jonas M. Winchell, Maria da Gloria Carvalho, Fabiana Pimenta, Maja Kodani, Cindy Vanner, Hilary Stevens, Diane Brady, Mardea Caulcrick-Grimes, Utpala Bandy, and Matthew R. Moore

Author affiliations: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA (K. Fleming-Dutra, C. Mbaeyi, R. Link-Gelles, A. Guh, B. Beall, J.M. Winchell, M.G. Carvalho, F. Pimenta, M. Kodani, H. Stevens, M.R. Moore); Rhode Island Department of Health, Providence, Rhode Island, USA (N. Alexander, C. Vanner, D. Brady, M. Caulcrick-Grimes, U. Bandy); Brown University–affiliated Hospitals, Providence (N. Alexander); Brown University, Providence (E. Forbes)

Abstract

During a pneumococcal disease outbreak in a pediatric psychiatric unit in a hospital in Rhode Island, USA, 6 (30%) of 20 patients and staff were colonized with Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 15A, which is not included in pneumococcal vaccines. The outbreak subsided after implementation of antimicrobial drug prophylaxis and enhanced infection control measures.

Streptococcus pneumoniae, or pneumococcus, causes an estimated 4 million illnesses in the United States annually (1). Pneumococcal disease outbreaks often occur in closed settings such as childcare facilities and hospitals. Control measures include vaccination, antimicrobial drug prophylaxis, and infection control (2). On January 26, 2011, the Rhode Island Department of Health was notified of 2 cases of invasive pneumococcal disease (IPD) and 2 cases of pneumonia that were associated with a unit (Unit 1) in a pediatric psychiatric hospital that had unusual infection control challenges. We investigated the outbreak to confirm the etiologic agent and prevent disease transmission.