A nosocomial outbreak of amoxycillin-resistant non-typable Haemophilus influenzae in a respiratory ward

J Hosp Infect. 1991 Sep;19(1):25-31. doi: 10.1016/0195-6701(91)90125-r.

Abstract

A nosocomial outbreak of acute bronchitis due to amoxycillin-resistant, non-typable Haemophilus influenzae occurred in a 23-bed unit, housing patients with respiratory disorders. Within a period of one month, 13 patients and two, previously healthy, members of staff were affected. The isolates were studied for strain relatedness by serotyping, biotyping and major outer membrane protein (MOMP) profiles after SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis; 13 of the isolates belonged to the same biotype and MOMP type, indicating cross-infection. Routine throat cultures of all patients and personnel were undertaken. To stop the epidemic, patients and nurses positive for amoxycillin-resistant H. influenzae were isolated or sent home and, if symptomatic, were treated with co-trimoxazole. We stress the importance of early intervention when amoxycillin-resistant H. influenzae strains occur in a ward.

MeSH terms

  • Acute Disease
  • Aged
  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Ampicillin Resistance
  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins / analysis
  • Bacterial Typing Techniques
  • Bronchitis / epidemiology
  • Bronchitis / microbiology*
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology
  • Cross Infection / microbiology*
  • Disease Outbreaks / statistics & numerical data*
  • Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel
  • Female
  • Haemophilus Infections / epidemiology
  • Haemophilus Infections / microbiology*
  • Haemophilus influenzae / classification
  • Haemophilus influenzae / enzymology
  • Haemophilus influenzae / isolation & purification*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Netherlands / epidemiology
  • Respiratory Care Units
  • Serotyping
  • Sputum / microbiology
  • beta-Lactamases / analysis

Substances

  • Bacterial Outer Membrane Proteins
  • beta-Lactamases