GAS Surgical Outbreak — SCE Infectious Diseases MCQ

Correct answer: C — Coordinate public-health investigation with typing of patient isolates and targeted screening of epidemiologically linked healthcare workers with review

The best answer is “Coordinate public-health investigation with typing of patient isolates and targeted screening of epidemiologically linked healthcare workers with review”. A linked surgical GAS cluster requires health-protection coordination, strain comparison and risk-based screening of staff with relevant contact rather than an untargeted single-source investigation. “Culture every environmental surface while omitting staff and isolate epidemiology” is less appropriate because it does not satisfy the scenario's decisive clinical or jurisdictional requirement. “Screen only patients who currently have pharyngitis” is less appropriate because it does not satisfy the scenario's decisive clinical or jurisdictional requirement. “Review antibiotic prescribing without obtaining microbiological linkage data” is less appropriate because it does not satisfy the scenario's decisive clinical or jurisdictional requirement. “Close the operating theatre permanently before confirming a cluster” is less appropriate because it does not satisfy the scenario's decisive clinical or jurisdictional requirement.

Reference: UKHSA group A streptococcal disease guidance: https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/group-a-streptococcal-infections-guidance-and-data