Karolina Dobrović1, Ivana Mareković2, Marina Payerl-Pal3, Nataša Andrijašević4, Tea Škrobo1, Valentina Košćak1, Dubravka Grgurić1, Sandra Šestan Crnek1, Andrea Janeš5, Amarela Lukić-Grlić6, Katarina Selec1, Suzana Bukovski7, Rok Čivljak8. 1. Department of Clinical Microbiology and Hospital Infections, Clinical Hospital Dubrava, Zagreb, Croatia. 2. Clinical Department of Clinical and Molecular Microbiology and Hospital Infections, University Hospital Center Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia; University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia. 3. Međimurje County Institute of Public Health, Čakovec, Croatia. 4. Department of Clinical Microbiology, "Dr. Fran Mihaljević" University Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Zagreb, Croatia. 5. Department of Clinical Microbiology and Hospital Infections, Sveti Duh University Hospital, Zagreb, Croatia. 6. University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Children's Hospital Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia. 7. Department of Clinical Microbiology, "Dr. Fran Mihaljević" University Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Zagreb, Croatia; Catholic University of Croatia, Zagreb, Croatia; Faculty of Dental Medicine and Health, J. J. Strossmayer University, Osijek, Croatia. 8. University of Zagreb School of Medicine, Zagreb, Croatia; Department of Respiratory Tract Infections, University Hospital for Infectious Diseases, Zagreb, Croatia. Electronic address: rok.civljak@bfm.hr.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: Burkholderia gladioli has been associated with infections in patients with cystic fibrosis, chronic granulomatous disease, and other immunocompromising conditions. The aim of this study was to better depict the outbreak of healthcare-associated bacteremia caused by B. gladioli due to exposure to contaminated multidose vials with saline solutions. METHODS: An environmental and epidemiologic investigation was conducted by the Infection Prevention and Control Team (IPCT) to identify the source of the outbreak in three Croatian hospitals. RESULTS: During a 3-month period, 13 B. gladioli bacteremia episodes were identified in 10 patients in three Croatian hospitals. At the time of the outbreak, all three hospitals used saline products from the same manufacturer. Two 100-ml multidose vials with saline solutions and needleless dispensing pins were positive for B. gladioli. All 13 bacteremia isolates and two isolates from the saline showed the same antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profile, demonstrating clonal relatedness. CONCLUSION: When an environmental pathogen causes an outbreak, contamination of intravenous products must be considered. Close communication between the local IPCT and the National Hospital Infection Control Advisory Committee is essential to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation and find the source of the outbreak.
OBJECTIVES: Burkholderia gladioli has been associated with infections in patients with cystic fibrosis, chronic granulomatous disease, and other immunocompromising conditions. The aim of this study was to better depict the outbreak of healthcare-associated bacteremia caused by B. gladioli due to exposure to contaminated multidose vials with saline solutions. METHODS: An environmental and epidemiologic investigation was conducted by the Infection Prevention and Control Team (IPCT) to identify the source of the outbreak in three Croatian hospitals. RESULTS: During a 3-month period, 13 B. gladioli bacteremia episodes were identified in 10 patients in three Croatian hospitals. At the time of the outbreak, all three hospitals used saline products from the same manufacturer. Two 100-ml multidose vials with saline solutions and needleless dispensing pins were positive for B. gladioli. All 13 bacteremia isolates and two isolates from the saline showed the same antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profile, demonstrating clonal relatedness. CONCLUSION: When an environmental pathogen causes an outbreak, contamination of intravenous products must be considered. Close communication between the local IPCT and the National Hospital Infection Control Advisory Committee is essential to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation and find the source of the outbreak.