Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica
Volume/Issue:
Volume 71: Issue 1
Occupational exposure to Coxiella burnetii during cardiac surgery: A case report and review of the literature
Authors:
Patient Diwunga IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France

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Matthieu Million IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
Aix Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, MEPHI, Marseille, France
Centre National de Référence Rickettsies, Bartonella et Coxiella, 13005 Marseille, France

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Isabelle Ravaux IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France

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Pierre Edouard Fournier IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
Centre National de Référence Rickettsies, Bartonella et Coxiella, 13005 Marseille, France
Aix Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France

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Philippe Gautret IHU-Méditerranée Infection, Marseille, France
Aix Marseille University, IRD, AP-HM, SSA, VITROME, Marseille, France

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https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1664-958X
Pages:
76–81
Online Publication Date:
11 Mar 2024
Publication Date:
26 Mar 2024
Article Category:
Research Article
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1556/030.2024.02240
Keywords:
Coxiella burnetii; occupational exposure; human-to-human transmission; post-exposure prophylaxis; Q fever
Restricted access

Abstract

We report a case of exposure to Coxiella burnetii in a surgical nurse who underwent an injury of her finger with a scalpel blade during a native aortic valve replacement with a bio-prosthetic cardiac valve conducted on a patient suffering from C. burnetii aortic endocarditis. Given the positivity of C. burnetii culture and PCR from the patient's aortic valve, she was prescribed prophylactic doxycycline 100 mg twice a day for 10 days. Q fever is an occupational zoonosis resulting usually of exposure to infected animals by inhalation of infected aerosols or consumption of contaminated raw milk. Apart from materno-foetal transmission, about 180 cases of human-to-human C. burnetii transmission have been published from 1949 to today, including transmission by blood transfusion, sexual relations, transmission in the healthcare setting to staff, patient attendants and other patients that were likely infected from inhalation of aerosol from respiratory or placental products, transmission to staff during autopsies of patients with Q fever and transmission in familial settings. As C. burnetii is a highly infectious bacterium, that may cause infection with a low inoculum, it should be added to the list of organisms which may be of concern following blood exposure among healthcare professionals.

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Cover Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica
Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica A Quarterly of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Print ISSN:
1217-8950
Online ISSN:
1588-2640

Senior editors

Editor-in-Chief: Prof. Dóra Szabó (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)

Managing Editor: Dr. Béla Kocsis (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)

Co-editor: Dr. Andrea Horváth (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)

Editorial Board

  • Prof. Éva ÁDÁM (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Sebastian AMYES (Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK.)
  • Dr. Katalin BURIÁN (Institute of Clinical Microbiology University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary; Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary.)
  • Dr. Orsolya DOBAY (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Ildikó Rita DUNAY (Institute of Inflammation and Neurodegeneration, Medical Faculty, Otto-von-Guericke University, Magdeburg, Germany; Center for Behavioral Brain Sciences (CBBS), Magdeburg, Germany)
  • Prof. Levente EMŐDY(Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.)
  • Prof. Anna ERDEI (Department of Immunology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary, MTA-ELTE Immunology Research Group, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary.)
  • Prof. Éva Mária FENYŐ (Division of Medical Microbiology, University of Lund, Lund, Sweden)
  • Prof. László FODOR (Department of Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, University of Veterinary Medicine, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. József KÓNYA (Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary)
  • Prof. Yvette MÁNDI (Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary)
  • Prof. Károly MÁRIALIGETI (Department of Microbiology, Eötvös Loránd University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. János MINÁROVITS (Department of Oral Biology and Experimental Dental Research, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary)
  • Prof. Béla NAGY (Centre for Agricultural Research, Institute for Veterinary Medical Research, Budapest, Hungary.)
  • Prof. István NÁSZ (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Kristóf NÉKÁM (Hospital of the Hospitaller Brothers in Buda, Budapest, Hungary.)
  • Dr. Eszter OSTORHÁZI (Institute of Medical Microbiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Rozália PUSZTAI (Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunobiology, University of Szeged, Szeged, Hungary)
  • Prof. Peter L. RÁDY (Department of Dermatology, University of Texas, Houston, Texas, USA)
  • Prof. Éva RAJNAVÖLGYI (Department of Immunology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Debrecen, Debrecen, Hungary)
  • Prof. Ferenc ROZGONYI (Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary)
  • Prof. Joseph G. SINKOVICS (The Cancer Institute, St. Joseph’s Hospital, Tampa, Florida, USA)
  • Prof. Júlia SZEKERES (Department of Medical Biology, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.)
  • Prof. Mária TAKÁCS (National Reference Laboratory for Viral Zoonoses, National Public Health Center, Budapest, Hungary.)
  • Prof. Edit URBÁN (Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary; Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Pécs, Pécs, Hungary.)

 

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Acta Microbiologica et Immunologica Hungarica
Language English
Size A4
Year of
Foundation		 1954
Volumes
per Year		 1
Issues
per Year		 4
Founder Magyar Tudományos Akadémia
Founder's
Address		 H-1051 Budapest, Hungary, Széchenyi István tér 9.
Publisher Akadémiai Kiadó
Publisher's
Address		 H-1117 Budapest, Hungary 1516 Budapest, PO Box 245.
Responsible
Publisher		 Chief Executive Officer, Akadémiai Kiadó
ISSN 1217-8950 (Print)
ISSN 1588-2640 (Online)

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