An outbreak of Staphylococcus aureus in a pediatric cardiothoracic surgery unit.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate an outbreak of Staphylococcus aureus surgical-site infections.


METHODS
Case-control study.


METHODS
Pediatric cardiothoracic surgery service of a tertiary-care university medical center.


METHODS
Molecular typing was used to identify healthcare workers who carried the epidemic strain.


RESULTS
Three children acquired surgical-site infections caused by a single strain of S. aureus. Fourteen (25%) of the staff members in the operating room and 17 (11%) on nursing units carried the epidemic strain (P = .01). A case-control study identified 4 healthcare workers who were associated statistically with the outbreak, 2 of whom (a cardiothoracic surgeon and a perfusionist) carried the epidemic strain in their nares. The surgeon also carried the epidemic strain on his hands. Each staff member who carried the epidemic strain was treated with mupirocin; those carrying the strain on their hands were required to wash their hands with chlorhexidine. The surgeon was not allowed to perform surgery until 2 of his hand cultures did not grow S. aureus.


CONCLUSIONS
Only three children were infected with the epidemic strain, but it was disseminated widely among staff who cared for children who underwent cardiothoracic surgery. No additional cases were identified after staff members who carried the epidemic strain were decolonized. Both classic epidemiologic methods and molecular typing techniques were necessary to identify the source and extent of this outbreak.
Weber
Stefan
S
Department of Internal Medicine University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, USA.
Herwaldt
Loreen A
LA
Mcnutt
Louise-Anne
LA
Rhomberg
Paul
P
Vaudaux
Pierre
P
Pfaller
Michael A
MA
Perl
Trish M
TM
D002353:Carrier State / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D006801:Humans; D007484:Iowa / Q000453:epidemiology; D008505:Medical Staff, Hospital; D009296:Nasal Cavity / Q000382:microbiology*; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D009873:Operating Rooms; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology