An outbreak of foodborne streptococcal throat infection

Streptococcal pharyngitis is a common disease of epidemic nature, usually transmitted by saliva droplets. We present an epidemiologic analysis of an outbreak of streptococcal pharyngitis in a military unit involving 75 soldiers. The causing organism was Streptococcus pyogenes (group A beta hemolytic Streptococcus, T28 M56), which was isolated from 53 affected individuals. The source of the epidemic was probably an army cook. The infection was transferred by a cabbage salad to individuals who became symptomatic within 24-48 h. This epidemic is a reminder of an exceptional route of streptococcal dissemination and one of the largest outbreaks of foodborne streptococcal pharyngitis documented.