Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-dsjbd Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-01T02:36:32.421Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Two Consecutive Outbreaks of Stenotrophomonas Maltophilia (Xanthomonas Maltophilia) in an Intensive-care Unit Defined by Restriction Fragment-Length Polymorphism Typing

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Nancy Alfieri*
Affiliation:
Calgary District Hospital Group, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Karam Ramotar
Affiliation:
Calgary General Hospital and University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Pamela Armstrong
Affiliation:
Calgary District Hospital Group, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Mary E. Spornitz
Affiliation:
Calgary District Hospital Group, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Glenda Ross
Affiliation:
Calgary District Hospital Group, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
James Winnick
Affiliation:
Calgary District Hospital Group, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
D. Roy Cook
Affiliation:
Calgary District Hospital Group, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
*
Infection Control, Calgary District Hospital Group, 7007–14 St SW, Calgary, Alberta T2V 1P9, Canada

Abstract

Objective:

To investigate and control consecutive outbreaks of Stenotrophomonas maltophilia infections in intensive-care–unit (ICU) patients.

Design:

Epidemiological investigation; restriction fragment-length polymorphism typing by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) of genomic DNA of outbreak strains; institution of infection control measures to limit spread.

Setting:

The medical-surgical ICU in an 800-bed tertiary-care center in Calgary, Alberta, Canada.

Results:

S maltophilia was recovered from 14 ICU patients (12 infected, 2 colonized) between February 1993 and February 1994. Ten of the 14 patient isolates and 1 environmental isolate were available for PFGE typing. Patient isolates from 6 of the first 10 patients were identical. Isolates from the next 3 of 4 patients and an isolate recovered from a ventilator being used by a patient not infected with S maltophilia also were identical, but different from the first 6. The ventilator isolate was temporally associated with the latter 4 patients.

Conclusion:

Molecular typing allowed us to determine that there were two separate consecutive S maltophilia outbreaks rather than a single protracted outbreak. Recovery of S maltophilia from patient ventilators and an in-line suction catheter suggests that the organism may have been spread by cross-contamination from contaminated equipment or from an environmental source.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1999

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Elting, LS, Khadori, N, Bodey, GP, Fainstein, V. Nosocomial infection caused by Xanthomonas maltophilia: a case-control study of predisposing factors. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1990;11:134138.Google Scholar
2.Gilardi, GL. Pseudomonas maltophilia infections in man. Am J Clin Pathol 1969;51:5861.Google Scholar
3.Morrison, AJ, Hoffmann, KK, Wenzel, RP. Associated mortality and clinical characteristics of nosocomial Pseudomonas maltophilia in a university hospital. J Clin Microbiol 1986;24:5255.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Zuravleff, JJ, Yu, VL. Infections caused by Pseudomonas maltophilia with emphasis on bacteremia: case reports and a review of the literature. Rev Infect Dis 1982;4:12361246.Google Scholar
5.Schoch, PE, Cunha, BA. Pseudomonas maltophilia. Infect Control 1987;8:169172.Google Scholar
6.Felegie, TP, Yu, VL, Rumans, LW, Yee, RB. Susceptibility of Pseudomonas maltophilia to antimicrobial agents, singly and in combination. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1979;16:833837.Google Scholar
7.Vartivarian, S, Anaissie, E, Bodey, G, Sprigg, H, Rolston, K. A changing pattern of susceptibility of Xanthomonas maltophilia to antimicrobial agents: implications for therapy. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 1994;38:624627.Google Scholar
8.Hulisz, DT, File, TM. Predisposing factors and antibiotic use in nosocomial infections caused by Xanthomonas maltophilia. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1992;13:489490.Google Scholar
9.Marshall, WF, Keating, MR, Anhalt, JP, Steckelberg, JM. Xanthomonas maltophilia: an emerging nosocomial pathogen. Mayo Clin Proc 1989;64:10971104.Google Scholar
10.Weinstein, RA, Mallison, GF. The role of microbiology laboratory in surveillance and control of nosocomial infections. Am J Clin Pathol 1978;69:130135.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11.Wenzel, RP, Osterman, CA, Hunting, KJ. Hospital acquired infections, II: infection rates by site, service, and common procedures in a university hospital. Am J Epidemiology 1976;104:645651.Google Scholar
12.Wenzel, RP, Osterman, CA, Donowitz, LG, Hoyt, JW, Sande, MA, Martone, WJ, et al. Identification of procedure-related nosocomial infections in high risk patients. Rev Infect Dis 1981;3:701707.Google Scholar
13.Garner, JS, Jarvis, WR, Emori, TG, Horan, TC, Hughes, JM. CDC definitions for nosocomial infections. Am J Infect Control 1988;16:128140.Google Scholar
14.Miller, JM. Quality control of media, reagents, and stains. In: Balows, A, Hausler, WJ Jr, Herrmann, KL, Isenberg, HD, Shadomy, HJ, eds. Manual of Clinical Microbiology. 5th ed. Washington, DC: American Society for Microbiology; 1991:12431298.Google Scholar
15.Laing, FP, Ramotar, K, Read, RR, Alfieri, N, Kureishi, A, Henderson, EA, et al. Molecular epidemiology of Xanthomonas maltophilia colonization and infection in the hospital environment. J Clin Microbiol 1995;33:513518.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16.Tenover, FC, Arbeit, RD, Goering, RV, Mickelsen, PA, Murray, BE, Persing, DH, et al. Interpreting chromosomal DNA restriction patterns produced by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis: criteria for bacterial strain typing. J Clin Microbiol 1995;33:22332239.Google Scholar
17.Garner, JS, Simmons, BP. Guideline for isolation precautions in hospitals. Infect Control 1983;4:245325.Google Scholar
18.Infection Control Guidelines. Isolation and Precaution Techniques. Health Services and Promotion Branch and Bureau of Communicable Disease Epidemiology. Tunney's Pasture, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada: Health Protection Branch, Health and Welfare Canada; 1989.Google Scholar
19.Jang, TN, Wang, FD, Wang, LS, Liu, CY, Liu, IM. Xanthomonas maltophilia bacteremia: an analysis of 32 cases. J Formos Med Assoc 1992;91:11701176.Google ScholarPubMed
20.Khardori, N, Elting, L, Wong, E, Schable, B, Bodey, GP. Nosocomial infections due to Xanthomonas maltophilia (Pseudomonas maltophilia) in patients with cancer. Rev Infect Dis 1990;12:9971003.Google Scholar
21.Muder, RR, Yu, VL, Dummer, JS, Vinson, C, Lumish, RM. Infections caused by Pseudomonas maltophilia. Arch Intern Med 1987;147:16721674.Google Scholar
22.Villarino, ME, Stevens, LE, Schable, B, Mayers, G, Miller, JM, Burke, JP, et al. Risk factors for epidemic Xanthomonas maltophilia infection/colonization in intensive care unit patients. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1992;13:201206.Google Scholar
23.Weems, JJ Jr. Nosocomial outbreak of Pseudomonas cepacia associated with contamination of reusable electronic ventilator temperature probes. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1993;14:583586.Google Scholar
24.Bryce, EA, Smith, JA, Tweeddale, M, Andruschak, BJ, Maxwell, MR. Dissemination of Bacillus cereus in an intensive care unit. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 1993;14:459462.Google Scholar