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Hand washing soap as a source of neonatal Serratia marcescens outbreak
Author(s) -
Rabier V,
Bataillon S,
JolivetGougeon A,
Chapplain JM,
Beuchée A,
Bétrémieux P
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
acta pædiatrica
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.772
H-Index - 115
eISSN - 1651-2227
pISSN - 0803-5253
DOI - 10.1111/j.1651-2227.2008.00953.x
Subject(s) - serratia marcescens , outbreak , pulsed field gel electrophoresis , medicine , neonatal intensive care unit , epidemiology , infection control , pediatrics , microbiology and biotechnology , intensive care medicine , virology , biology , escherichia coli , biochemistry , genotype , gene
Objective: To describe an outbreak of Serratia marcescens infections in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and to report investigations and interventions having led to the cessation of the outbreak. Design: Observational study of microbiological and epidemiological investigations realised during a S. marcescens outbreak between March and October 2006. Methods: Nine cases were observed in a 5 months period. A Serratia outbreak was therefore identified, and all the strains were compared by pulsed‐field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). Data from medical notes were gathered retrospectively. Environmental samples were gathered prospectively. Results: Four infants were colonized and five infants were infected by S. marcescens . PFGE revealed that three different strains were present. Seven of the nine babies were infected by only one of these strains. This same strain was found in a nonantimicrobial soap bottle (NAS) that could be the source of contamination. Conclusion: It is the first time that S. marcescens is found in a NAS during a neonatal nosocomial outbreak. Molecular analysis is a method of choice to compare different strains. Identification and elimination of the nosocomial source and adherence to the infection control policies are essential to succeed in the containment of a nosocomial epidemic.