Outbreak of sporotrichosis among tree nursery workers

J Infect Dis. 1997 Aug;176(2):499-504. doi: 10.1086/514070.

Abstract

In spring 1994, an outbreak of sporotrichosis occurred at a tree nursery in Florida; 9 (14%) of 65 workers involved in production of sphagnum moss topiaries developed lymphocutaneous sporotrichosis. A cohort study of all 65 employees was conducted to identify risk factors for sporotrichosis, and an environmental investigation was done. The risk of sporotrichosis increased significantly with the duration of working with sphagnum moss (P < .05), in particular with filling topiaries (P < .05), and with having less gardening experience (P < .05). Wearing gloves was protective (P < .005). Sporothrix schenckii was cultured from patients and sphagnum moss used in topiary production. Use of restriction fragment length polymorphism revealed an identical pattern for patient isolates that was different from the patterns of environmental isolates. Physicians should be aware of sporotrichosis in patients with ulcerative skin lesions who have a history of occupational or recreational exposure to sphagnum moss.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Agricultural Workers' Diseases / epidemiology*
  • Agricultural Workers' Diseases / microbiology
  • Antibodies, Fungal / blood
  • Antifungal Agents / therapeutic use
  • Bryopsida / microbiology*
  • Cohort Studies
  • DNA, Fungal / genetics
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Female
  • Florida / epidemiology
  • Humans
  • Itraconazole / therapeutic use
  • Lymphangitis / microbiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Potassium Iodide / therapeutic use
  • Risk Factors
  • Skin / microbiology
  • Sporothrix / genetics
  • Sporothrix / isolation & purification
  • Sporotrichosis / drug therapy
  • Sporotrichosis / epidemiology*
  • Sporotrichosis / microbiology*
  • Trees

Substances

  • Antibodies, Fungal
  • Antifungal Agents
  • DNA, Fungal
  • Potassium Iodide
  • Itraconazole