Chryseobacterium (Flavobacterium) meningosepticum outbreak associated with colonization of water taps in a neonatal intensive care unit

J Hosp Infect. 2001 Mar;47(3):188-92. doi: 10.1053/jhin.2000.0908.

Abstract

From September 1994 to May 1996, a strain of multi-resistant Chryseobacterium (Flavobacterium) meningosepticum was isolated from eight neonates on a neonatal intensive care unit. The strain was resistant to ampicillin, ceftazidime, imipenem, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprim-sulphamethoxazole, susceptible to piperacillin and amikacin, and had variable susceptibility to rifampicin and vancomycin. Two neonates were infected (one had pneumonia and one septicaemia and meningitis); the remaining six neonates were colonized in the respiratory secretions. Two cases occurred that could not be explained by cross-infection during the outbreak. Environmental screening recovered C. meningosepticum from sink taps. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of chromosomal macrorestriction digests of patient and environmental isolates showed them to be representatives of a single strain. The outbreak was controlled after staff were required to use an alcoholic handrub after washing hands, and toiletting of babies was done with sterile water instead of tap-water. Repair and chlorination of the water-tanks and changing the sink-taps resolves the outbreak.

MeSH terms

  • Cross Infection / microbiology*
  • Cross Infection / prevention & control
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Disease Reservoirs
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial*
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple*
  • Flavobacterium / drug effects
  • Flavobacterium / isolation & purification*
  • Flavobacterium / pathogenicity
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / drug therapy
  • Gram-Negative Bacterial Infections / immunology*
  • Humans
  • Infant, Newborn
  • Infant, Premature
  • Infection Control
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient
  • Intensive Care Units, Neonatal*
  • London
  • Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length
  • Sanitary Engineering
  • Water Microbiology*