title: An outbreak of Serratia marcescens infections related to contaminated chlorhexidine.
abstract: An outbreak of Serratia marcescens infections occurred in a university tertiary-care hospital. Alcohol-free chlorhexidine solutions were contaminated with S marcescens. The majority of patient and chlorhexidine strains had similar pulsed field-gel electrophoresis banding patterns. Chlorhexidine was recalled, and the rate of S marcescens isolation returned to baseline. Chlorhexidine without alcohol should not be used as an antiseptic.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Royal Victoria Hospital, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vigeant
authors.forename: V G
authors.initials: VG
authors.lastname: Loo
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bertrand
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dixon
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hollis
authors.forename: M A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Pfaller
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: McLean
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Briedis
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Perl
authors.forename: H G
authors.initials: HG
authors.lastname: Robson
mesh_terms: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002710:Chlorhexidine; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005260:Female; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011792:Quebec; D016868:Serratia Infections / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000302:isolation & purification*
chemical_list: D000891:Anti-Infective Agents, Local; D002710:Chlorhexidine