Acquisition of multidrug-resistant Serratia marcescens by critically ill patients who consumed tap water during receipt of oral medication.
We describe an outbreak of multidrug-resistant Serratia marcescens infection and colonization involving adults admitted to a surgical intensive care unit. Examination of the outbreak revealed epidemiological evidence that consumption of tap water from a contaminated faucet during receipt of oral medication was the mechanism of S. marcescens acquisition.
Horcajada
Juan P
JP
Service of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Clínic Universitari-IDIBAPS, Barcelona, Spain. jhorcaja@yahoo.es
Martínez
Jose Antonio
JA
Alcón
Amalia
A
Marco
Francesc
F
De Lazzari
Elisa
E
de Matos
Anastacio
A
Zaragoza
Magda
M
Sallés
Montse
M
Zavala
Elisabeth
E
Mensa
Josep
J
D000284:Administration, Oral; D016638:Critical Illness; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D006801:Humans; D016868:Serratia Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D013030:Spain / Q000453:epidemiology; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply