title: Nosocomial outbreak of Microbacterium species bacteremia among cancer patients.
abstract: To date, only 6 sporadic Microbacterium species (formerly coryneform Centers for Disease Control and Prevention [CDC] groups A-4 and A-5) infections have been reported. The source, mode of transmission, morbidity, mortality, and potential for nosocomial transmission of Microbacterium species remain unknown. From 26 July through 14 August 1997, 8 episodes of coryneform CDC group A-5 symptomatic bacteremia occurred in 6 patients on the oncology ward at the Maine Medical Center. One patient died. All isolates were identified at CDC as Microbacterium species and had identical DNA banding patterns by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. To assess risk factors for Microbacterium species infection, a retrospective cohort study was conducted. The presence of a central venous catheter was the strongest risk factor (6/6 vs. 22/48; relative risk, 3.2; P<.0001). This outbreak demonstrates significant Microbacterium species-associated morbidity and mortality in immunocompromised populations and confirms the potential for epidemic nosocomial transmission.
authors.affiliation: Epidemic Intelligence Service, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia 30333, USA. jalonso-echanove@cdc.gov
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alonso-Echanove
authors.forename: S S
authors.initials: SS
authors.lastname: Shah
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Valenti
authors.forename: S N
authors.initials: SN
authors.lastname: Dirrigl
authors.forename: L A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Carson
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Arduino
authors.forename: W R
authors.initials: WR
authors.lastname: Jarvis
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016470:Bacteremia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D005260:Female; D016908:Gram-Positive Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016987:Gram-Positive Rods / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D008281:Maine / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000150:complications*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial