[Epidemic outbreaks control involving Staphylococcus aureus with reduced sensitivity to glycopeptides].
This study describes two epidemic outbreaks involving Staphylococcus aureus with reduced sensitivity to glycopeptides, one in 2000 involving eight patients and the other in 2001-2002 involving 16 patients. These strains were detected rapidly, thanks to routine screening for the offending organisms in the bacteriology laboratory of our hospital. The clonal character of these strains was confirmed by pulsed field electrophoresis. The management of these epidemic outbreaks confirmed (i) the need for systematic adoption of standard precautions, (ii) the importance of circulating information in combating multi-resistant bacteria, as well as the difficulties in transferring colonised patients to different hospital wards, and (iii) the intermittent nature of S. aureus carriage, resulting in a need for prolonged surveillance of colonised and/or infected patients. In addition, our study underlines the value of a multi-disciplinary approach to the management of diffusion of multi-resistant bacteria.
Service de maladies infectieuses, unité d'hygiène interhospitalière, hôpital Bellevue CHU Saint-Etienne, 42055 Saint-Etienne cedex 02, France. f.olivier.mallaval@chu-st-etienne.fr
F-O
FO
Mallaval
A
A
Carricajo
I
I
Martin
N
N
Fonsale
F
F
Grattard
P
P
Fascia
G
G
Aubert
F
F
Zeni
F
F
Lucht
B
B
Pozzetto
P
P
Berthelot
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D018432:Drug Resistance, Multiple; D005602:France / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests; D010455:Peptides; D012621:Seasons; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D010455:Peptides