Outbreak Investigation
An Outbreak of Ciprofloxacin-Resistant Serogroup B Meningococcal Disease in a Military Base, 2017
DOI: 10.6525/TEB.201804_34(7).0002Hsueh-Mei Chiang1, Chien-Shun Chiou2, Chuen-Sheue Chiang2, Shu-Man Yao2,Hao-Hsin Wu3*, Yu-Ning Fan1, Hsin-Yi Wei4
2018 Vol.34 NO.7
Correspondence Author： Hao-Hsin Wu3*
- 1Northern Regional Center, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan
- 2Center for Diagnostics and Vaccine Development, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan
- 3Division of Infection Control and Biosafety, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan
- 4Taipei Regional Center, Centers for Disease Control, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Taiwan
Abstract：
On July 23, 2017, a hospital in Taoyuan reported a suspected case of meningococcal disease, who was a soldier in a military base, to Taoyuan Department of Health. After investigation, another two soldiers who served in the same base with the index case developed symptoms of meningitis and were reported subsequently. Blood cultures from all three cases yielded serogroup B Neisseria meningitidis with indistinguishable pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns. A total of 114 contacts received chemoprophylaxis with rifampin or ciprofloxacin. Nevertheless, the hospital laboratory found that the isolate from the index case was resistant to ciprofloxacin. Of the 98 contacts receiving ciprofloxacin as initial chemoprophylaxis, 54 contacts were offered azithromycin while the rest 44 contacts declined. No secondary cases were identified in the contacts during the one-month follow-up period. The outbreak underscores the importance of antimicrobial surveillance of Neisseria meningitidis. The antimicrobial profiles of isolates from the cases should be reviewed and taken into consideration in terms of chemoprophylaxis for contacts.
