title: An outbreak of neonatal infection with Acinetobacter linked to contaminated suction catheters.
abstract: An outbreak of multi-drug resistant Acinetobacter spp. infection in the neonatal unit at King Edward VIII hospital in Durban, South Africa, is described. Nine out of a total of 218 neonates were infected during the study period. The outbreak was characterized by early onset infection [median postnatal age 3 days (range 1-23 days)] in pre-term babies [median gestational age 33 weeks (range 30-35 weeks)] with an attributable mortality of 22%. The source of the outbreak, determined by ribotyping, was presumed to be contaminated suction bottles and catheters in the neonatal admission room. Five neonates were successfully treated with ciprofloxacin and amikacin. Enforcement of strict infection control practices curtailed the outbreak.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Natal, Medical School, Durban, South Africa.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Pillay
authors.forename: D G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Pillay
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Adhikari
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Pillay
authors.forename: A W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Sturm
mesh_terms: D000150:Acinetobacter / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000517:prevention & control; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D017053:Infection Control; D008297:Male; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D013019:South Africa / Q000453:epidemiology; D013396:Suction / Q000295:instrumentation
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D004269:DNA, Bacterial