Nosocomial transmission of penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae.
Two patients were found to harbor intermediate-level penicillin-resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae in a pediatric hospital setting. For the first patient, the bacterium was isolated from a tracheal aspirate, and for the second patient, a positive blood culture was found a short time after the index case. Two molecular typing techniques (enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence polymerase chain reaction, and repetitive sequence-based polymerase chain reaction) demonstrated homology among these isolates, which suggests person-to-person spread. We propose the need for institution-based infection control precautions that will limit the spread of penicillin-resistant pneumococci.
Cimolai
N
N
Department of Pediatrics, Children's and Women's Health Centre of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada. ncimolai@wpog.childhosp.bc.ca
Cogswell
A
A
Hunter
R
R
D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000188:drug therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008297:Male; D010403:Penicillin Resistance; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction / Q000379:methods; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000635:transmission*; D013296:Streptococcus pneumoniae / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification