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Neonatal infection outbreak linked to antimicrobial therapies
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Vancomycin-resistant enterococci outbreaks may have been related to administration of antibiotics in a Greek neonatal ICU, according to recent study findings published in the American Journal of Infection Control.
The study included 253 neonates screened for vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) colonization in stool samples. A case-control study was conduced and neonates with positive cultures constituted the case group and neonates with negative cultures constituted the control group.
Researchers found that 39.9% of neonates were colonized with VRE. Fifty-nine new cases were detected during the first 9 weeks of the study period. One clone predominated during the first outbreak wave. No new cases were detected during weeks 10 and 12, but a second wave occurred at week 13, with 42 new cases and multiple clones detected.
Administration of antimicrobial therapy for late-onset neonatal sepsis and hospitalization during the first month of the outbreak were identified as risk factors for VRE colonization.
“After the documentation of an infection caused by resistant pathogens, such as VRE, in a NICU, an active surveillance program should be implemented in order to identify burden of VRE colonization in the unit,” Elias Iosifidis, MD, PhD, of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki told Healio.com. “Prompt management requires a bundle of actions (infection control measures, antibiotic stewardship, case control study, audits, education, etc.) and adherence on these measures. Finally even in the case of a large and polyclonal outbreak, control may be achieved with a multifacted approach.”
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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