Hospital-Associated Transmission of Brucella melitensis outside the Laboratory

Abstract

Brucella melitensis was identified in an aspirate obtained from a patient’s hip joint during a procedure at a hospital in Canada. We conducted an investigation into possible exposures among hospital workers; 1 worker who assisted with the procedure tested positive for B. melitensis. Aerosol-generating procedures performed outside the laboratory may facilitate transmission of this bacterium.

Keywords

• Brucella
• Brucella melitensis
• nosocomial infection
• health care workers
• laboratory-acquired infection
• transmission