Primary pneumonic plague with nosocomial transmission in La Libertad, Peru 2010

Authors

  • Luis F. Donaires Centro Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud. Lima, Perú. Médico Infectólogo.
  • Manuel Céspedes Centro Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud. Lima, Perú. Biólogo. Magíster en Salud Pública.
  • Pedro Valencia Centro Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud. Lima, Perú. Médico Infectólogo. Magíster en Salud Pública.
  • Juan Carlos Salas Hospital Regional Docente de Trujillo, Gobierno Regional de La Libertad. Trujillo, Perú. Médico internista.
  • María E. Luna Hospital Regional Docente de Trujillo, Gobierno Regional de La Libertad. Trujillo, Perú. Médico Epidemiólogo.
  • Alex Castañeda Hospital Víctor Lazarte Echegaray, EsSalud. Trujillo, Perú. Médico Infectólogo.
  • Víctor Peralta Dirección Regional de Salud La Libertad, Gobierno Regional de La Libertad.Trujillo, Perú. Médico pediatra.
  • César Cabezas Centro Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud. Lima, Perú. Médico Infectólogo.
  • Paul E. Pachas Centro Nacional de Salud Pública, Instituto Nacional de Salud. Lima, Perú. Médico Epidemiólogo.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.17843/rpmesp.2010.273.1489

Keywords:

Pneumonic plague, Yersinia pestis, Cross infection, Infectious disease transmission, patient-to-professional, Diseases outbreaks, Peru

Abstract

Pneumonic plague is one of the clinical forms of plague, of low frequency and high mortality, transmitted by direct inhalation of Yersinia pestis coming from an animal or from person to person. Objective. To describe the clinical and epidemiological characteristics of the cases of primary pneumonic plague in an outbreak in the north of Peru. Materials and methods . The clinical records of the confirmed cases of primary pneumonic plague presenting in an outbreak occurring in La Libertad, in July 2010, were reviewed, also the search and contact investigation was performed. Results. The index case was identified, as well as three additional cases, out of these, two were nosocomial infections related to the index case. The initial clinical presentation was characterized by sudden onset of fever, chills, myalgia and chest pain, which in less than 24 hours evolved to hypotension and cyanosis. The initiation of specific treatment varied from 2 to 12 days, and cases with prompt initiation of treatment had a better clinical outcome. The lethality was 50% (2/4). Conclusion . Nosocomial transmission of pneumonic plague in Peru is evidenced, with severe clinical manifestation s and high lethality.

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Published

2010-09-28

Issue

Section

Research Articles

How to Cite

1.
Donaires LF, Céspedes M, Valencia P, Salas JC, Luna ME, Castañeda A, et al. Primary pneumonic plague with nosocomial transmission in La Libertad, Peru 2010. Rev Peru Med Exp Salud Publica [Internet]. 2010 Sep. 28 [cited 2024 Nov. 13];27(3). Available from: https://rpmesp.ins.gob.pe/index.php/rpmesp/article/view/1489

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