A profile of skin sepsis in meat handlers

Four hundred and sixty-seven episodes of sepsis associated with meat handling and poultry processing occupations were seen in two Health Districts of North Yorkshire in a period of just over five years. Altogether 389 patients were infected in 16 outbreaks and 24 sporadic incidents; spread of infection was noted in families of nine workers. The variety of skin infections included septic cuts and scratches, paronychia, abscess, lymphangitis as well as infection in pierced ear lobes and in tattoos. Beta-haemolytic streptococci or Staphylococcus aureus were present in 96 per cent of the 303 episodes that yielded positive cultures. These included 203 episodes with Streptococcus pyogenes and 170 with S. aureus. Skin sepsis appears to be common among meat handlers in this part of England.