Wooden sticks as the source of a pseudoepidemic of infection with Rhizopus microsporus var. rhizopodiformis among immunocompromised patients

J Clin Microbiol. 1997 Sep;35(9):2422-3. doi: 10.1128/jcm.35.9.2422-2423.1997.

Abstract

Wooden sticks used to suspend feces obtained for surveillance cultures were found to be the source of Rhizopus microsporus var. rhizopodiformis causing a pseudo-outbreak among 17 immunocompromised patients cared for in three different wards. Nonsterile wooden products should therefore not be used for collecting, handling, and processing specimens for microbiological examination.

MeSH terms

  • Cross Infection / epidemiology
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Equipment Contamination*
  • False Positive Reactions
  • Feces / microbiology
  • Humans
  • Immunocompromised Host
  • Mucormycosis / epidemiology*
  • Netherlands / epidemiology
  • Specimen Handling