[Nosocomial respiratory infection due to an imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa O: 12 strain in a Tunis's neonatal intensive care unit].
OBJECTIVE
Investigation of an outbreak caused by an imipenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain and research of its hospital reservoir.


METHODS
Nine strains isolated from protected tracheal specimens during 14 weeks (October 2004 to January 2005) from 8 infants, and one strain from vacuum interrupter were studied. Epidemiological study was investigated by determination of antibiotics susceptibility, serotyping and Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).


RESULTS
Strains were of O:12 serotype, they have the same antibiotype characterised by imipenem resistance. Strains were indistinguishable or closely related as determined by PFGE. The common source of P. aeruginosa O:12 strains was not determined, however eradication of the epidemic strain was obtained by amelioration of hygiene conditions and the change of disinfectors.


CONCLUSIONS
Outbreak of respiratory infections due to an imipenem-resistant P. aeruginosa O:12. The common source of the epidemic strain was not determined.
Achour
W
W
Service des laboratoires, centre national de greffe de moelle osseuse, rue Djebel-Lakdhar, Bab-Saadoun, 1006 Tunis, Tunisie.
Abbassi
M-S
MS
Cherif
A
A
Jabnoun
S
S
Khrouf
N
N
Ben Hassen
A
A
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D024881:Drug Resistance, Bacterial; D006801:Humans; D015378:Imipenem / Q000494:pharmacology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000635:transmission; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000187:drug effects; D014416:Tunisia
D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D015378:Imipenem