Zwaveling JH ,
Dijck WC van ,
Engel HWB ,
Groothuis DG ,
Jager-Jongkind AD ,
Marcelis JH
27 p
in Dutch
1990
Toon Nederlands
English Abstract In 1989 a specialized hospital for the treatment of
severely epileptic patients, was struck by what seemed an epidemic of
respiratory- and gastro-intestinal disease. Six patients in one unit, and
some of their nurses became ill. No cases outside the unit occurred. The
National Institute for Public Health and Environmental Protection was asked
to help in the analysis of the epidemic. No single causative agent could be
identified. However, the most likely explanation of the clustering of cases
seemed to be an infectious disease primarily involving the digestive tract.
In these severly disabled patients vomiting probably led to aspiration of
gastric contents and ultimately to aspiration pneumonia.