Contaminated handwashing sinks as the source of a clonal outbreak of KPC-2-producing Klebsiella oxytoca on a hematology ward.

Abstract

We investigated sinks as possible sources of a prolonged Klebsiella pneumonia carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Klebsiella oxytoca outbreak. Seven carbapenem-resistant K. oxytoca isolates were identified in sink drains in 4 patient rooms and in the medication room. Investigations for resistance genes and genetic relatedness of patient and environmental isolates revealed that all the isolates harbored the blaKPC-2 and blaTEM-1 genes and were genetically indistinguishable. We describe here a clonal outbreak caused by KPC-2-producing K. oxytoca, and handwashing sinks were a possible reservoir.

• Authors: Eva Leitner, Gernot Zarfel, Josefa Luxner, Kathrin Herzog, Shiva Pekard-Amenitsch, Martin Hoenigl, Thomas Valentin, Gebhard Feierl, Andrea J Grisold, Christoph Högenauer, Heinz Sill, Robert Krause, Ines Zollner-Schwetz
• Journal: Antimicrobial agents and chemotherapy (Antimicrob Agents Chemother) Vol. 59 Issue 1 Pg. 714-6 (Jan 2015) ISSN: 1098-6596 [Electronic] United States
• PMID: 25348541 (Publication Type: Journal Article)
• Copyright: Copyright © 2015, American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Chemical References

• beta-lactamase KPC-2
• beta-Lactamases

Topics

• Cross Infection (epidemiology, etiology, microbiology)
• Disease Outbreaks
• Equipment Contamination
• Hand Disinfection
• Hematology
• Hospital Departments
• Humans
• Klebsiella Infections (epidemiology, etiology, microbiology)
• Klebsiella oxytoca (enzymology)
• beta-Lactamases