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Extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae outbreak reveals incubators as pathogen reservoir in neonatal care center

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Abstract

In the context of a 3-month extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumonia (ESBL-KP) outbreak in a neonatal care center (NCC), hygiene practices and hospital environment were investigated. ESBL-KP strains isolated from patients and environment were compared by molecular typing. The density of incidence of multi-drug-resistant bacteria (MDRB) was calculated from January 2014 to September 2016. The 3-month ESBL-KP outbreak involved 19 patients. Clinical strains from the 19 patients displayed the same molecular profile between them, and with a strain isolated from an incubator after cleaning. Furthermore, 52.4% of incubator mattresses were positive for diverse pathogens. Hygiene practices were acceptable except for external practitioners and parents. In addition to classical infection control (IC) measures, the replacement of mattresses and the improvement of incubators disinfection stopped the outbreak. The protocol of disinfection was revised and microbiological control was implemented. A significant decrease of MDRB incidence was concomitant (p value = 0.03219) but 3 months later, MDRB incidence increased again.

Conclusion: This investigation highlighted incubators and mattresses as critical materials associated to infectious risk in NCC. NCC and IC teams should implement efficient protocol for incubators disinfection and monitoring.

What is Known:

• Environment in neonatal intensive care units is often suspected as reservoir for Enterobacteriaceae outbreaks but is scarcely investigated.

• Incubators and mattresses offer wet and warm conditions suitable for pathogens multiplication, but microbiological survey is not performed routinely for assessing bacterial contamination.

What is New:

• Incubators and mattresses serve as reservoir for pathogens and relay in outbreak.

• An infection control protocol associating efficient disinfection and microbiology analysis is proposed.

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Abbreviations

ESBL-KP:

Beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumonia

HAI:

Healthcare-associated infection

IC:

Infection control

KP:

Klebsiella pneumonia

MALDI-TOF MS:

Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry

MDRB:

Multi-drug-resistant bacteria

MRSA:

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

MSSA:

Methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus

NCC:

Neonatal care center

NICU:

Neonatal intensive care unit

NKU:

Neonatal kangaroo unit

NRU:

Neonatal resuscitation unit

PFGE:

Pulsed field gel electrophoresis

VRE:

Vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus

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Funding

This work was supported by the University Hospital of Montpellier and the association ADEREMPHA, Sauzet, France.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Département d’Hygiène Hospitalière, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    Lucile Cadot & Hélène Bruguière

  2. Hydrosciences Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, Département d’Hygiène Hospitalière, CHU Montpellier, 15 avenue Charles Flahault, BP 14491, 34093, Montpellier cedex 5, France

    Estelle Jumas-Bilak, Sylvie Parer & Sara Romano-Bertrand

  3. Laboratoire de Bacteriologie, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    Marie-Noëlle Didelot

  4. Hydrosciences Montpellier, IRD, CNRS, Univ Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    Agnès Masnou

  5. Pharmacie à Usage Interieur, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    Gaëlle de Barry

  6. Service de Néonatologie, CHU Montpellier, Montpellier, France

    Gilles Cambonie

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  1. Lucile Cadot
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Contributions

LC wrote the first draft of the manuscript and provided environmental sampling and bacteriological analyses; HB made the audit observations and analyzed their results; EJB helped for the interpretation of results from bacteriological analyses; MND contributed to the survey of cases in the NCC wards; AM performed molecular typing on strains; GDB provided antibiotic consumption reports; GC diagnosed cases and contributed to their survey in the NCC wards; SP managed the audit study and the application of preventive measures; SRB managed the environmental investigation, the application of preventive measures, and the writing of the manuscript. All authors have seen and approved the submission of this version of the manuscript and take full responsibility for the manuscript. No authors received any grant or honorarium or payment for producing this manuscript.

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Sara Romano-Bertrand.

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All procedures performed in studies involving human participants were in accordance with the ethical standards of the institutional and/or national research committee and with the 1964 Helsinki declaration and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. For this type of study, formal consent is not required.

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Communicated by Patrick Van Reempts

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Cadot, L., Bruguière, H., Jumas-Bilak, E. et al. Extended spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae outbreak reveals incubators as pathogen reservoir in neonatal care center. Eur J Pediatr 178, 505–513 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-019-03323-w

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00431-019-03323-w

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