Epidemic of Tularaemia in the West Bohemian Region

Overview

The authors describe the course on an epidemic of tularaemia in the Plzeň region which developed in December 2000 to February 2001. During the epidemic a total of 579 serological examinations esere made, in employees of the plant where the epidemic occurred and in the population in the adjacent area of the community which had a common water supply. The vehicle of the infection was contaminated water in which, using PCR, DNA Francisella tularensis was confirmed.From a total of 579 examinations serologically infection with Francisella tularensis was confirmed in 48 patients (36 adults, 12 children).The authors focused attention on the clinical picture in 15 patients hospitalized on account of a more severe course of tularaemia at the infectious diseases clinic of the Faculty Hospital Plzeň in December 2000 to Febrnary 2001. In the majority of cases (13 patients) the oroglandular form was involved, and in 9 instances extirpation of the cervical nodes was necessary. One patient was hospitalized on account of the pulmonary form of tularaemia, in another tase the ulceroglandular form of the disease was recorded with incision and drainage of the inguinal node. The authors present brief tase-histories of two patients.

Key words:
tularaemia - transmission by water - oroglandular form - therapy.