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Protracted Outbreak of Multidrug-Resistant Acinetobacter baumannii after Intercontinental Transfer of Colonized Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Caroline Landelle ,
Patrick Legrand ,
Philippe Lesprit ,
Florence Cizeau ,
David Ducellier ,
Cyril Gouot ,
Paula Bréhaut ,
Sophan Soing-Altrach ,
Emmanuelle Girou  and
Christian Brun-Buisson
Caroline Landelle*
Affiliation:
Unité de Contrôle, Epidémiologie et Prévention de l'Infection, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Albert Chenevier-Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 12, Créteil, France
Patrick Legrand
Affiliation:
Service de Bactériologie-Virologie-Hygiène, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Albert Chenevier-Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 12, Créteil, France
Philippe Lesprit
Affiliation:
Unité de Contrôle, Epidémiologie et Prévention de l'Infection, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Albert Chenevier-Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 12, Créteil, France
Florence Cizeau
Affiliation:
Unité de Contrôle, Epidémiologie et Prévention de l'Infection, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Albert Chenevier-Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 12, Créteil, France
David Ducellier
Affiliation:
Unité de Contrôle, Epidémiologie et Prévention de l'Infection, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Albert Chenevier-Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 12, Créteil, France
Cyril Gouot
Affiliation:
Unité de Contrôle, Epidémiologie et Prévention de l'Infection, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Albert Chenevier-Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 12, Créteil, France
Paula Bréhaut
Affiliation:
Unité de Contrôle, Epidémiologie et Prévention de l'Infection, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Albert Chenevier-Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 12, Créteil, France
Sophan Soing-Altrach
Affiliation:
Unité de Contrôle, Epidémiologie et Prévention de l'Infection, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Albert Chenevier-Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 12, Créteil, France
Emmanuelle Girou
Affiliation:
Unité de Contrôle, Epidémiologie et Prévention de l'Infection, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Albert Chenevier-Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 12, Créteil, France
Christian Brun-Buisson
Affiliation:
Unité de Contrôle, Epidémiologie et Prévention de l'Infection, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Albert Chenevier-Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 12, Créteil, France Service de Réanimation Médicale, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Albert Chenevier-Henri Mondor, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Université Paris 12, Créteil, France
*
Unité de Contrôle, Epidémiologie et Prévention de l’Infection, Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France (caroline.landelle@gmail.com)
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Abstract

Objective.

To describe the course and management of a protracted outbreak after intercontinental transfer of 2 patients colonized with multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii (MDRAB).

Design.

An 18-month outbreak investigation.

Setting.

An 860-bed university hospital in France.

Patients.

Case patients (ie, carriers) were those colonized or infected with an MDRAB isolate.

Methods.

During the epidemic period, all intensive care unit (ICU) patients and contacts of carriers who were transferred to wards were screened for MDRAB carriage. Contact precautions, environmental screening, and auditing of healthcare worker (HCW) practices were implemented; rooms were cleaned with hydrogen peroxide mist disinfection. One ICU, in which most of the cases occurred, was closed on 4 occasions for thorough cleaning and disinfection.

Results.

The 2 index case patients were identified as 2 patients who carried the same MDRAB strain and who were admitted to the hospital after repatriation from Tahiti 5 months apart. During an 18-month period, a total of 84 secondary cases occurred. Reintroduction of MDRAB into the ICUs occurred from patients previously colonized or from healthcare personnel. Termination of the outbreak was only achieved when all carriers from wards or the ICU were cohorted to an isolation unit with dedicated healthcare personnel.

Conclusions.

Intercontinental transfer of carriers of MDRAB can result in extensive outbreaks and serious disruption of the hospital's organization. Transmission from carriers most likely occurred via the hands of HCWs, poor cleaning protocols, airborne spread, and contaminated water from sink traps. This protracted outbreak was controlled only after implementation of an extensive control program and eventual cohorting of all carriers in an isolation unit with dedicated healthcare personnel.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 34 , Issue 2 , February 2013 , pp. 119 - 124
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2013 

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