Epidemiologic investigation and the follow-up result for unexplained respiratory illness in a university laboratory

Chun Byung Chul
Department of Preventive Medicine, Korea University College of Medicine
Yoo Kwang Ha
Department of Pulmonology Allergology, Konkuk University Medical Center
Kim Eun Kyoung, Choi Eun Kyung, Moon Sangjun, Lee Sangwon
Division of Public Health Emergency Management, Center for Public Health Emergency Preparedness and Response, KCDC

In 2015, an unexplained respiratory illness occurred in a university laboratory. As a result, an epidemiologic investigation was conducted by the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) and civilian experts. The epidemiologic investigation led us to suggest that the unexplained respiratory illness is likely to be organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS) caused by endotoxin, etc., in the feeds. Patients with symptoms showed a rapid clinical progression and no possibility of human-to-human transmission. Symptomatic cases were followed up with low-dose chest computed tomography (CT) after discharge (totaling 4 times) according to expert opinion. Although follow-up CT scans showed that cases had remained single or as multiple small nodules, the overall size and number of lesions showed a decease, indicating that additional follow-up observations for the remaining lesions may be unnecessary.

Keywords: Unexplained respiratory illness, Epidemiologic investigation, Organic dust toxic syndrome (ODTS)