title: [Pseudo-outbreak of MRSA in the pediatric units].
abstract: The aim of this paper was to investigate the marked increase noted in the number of MRSA isolates recovered from stool of pediatric units patients. The study involved 37 patients with infection of digestive tract and 1 patient with infection of the central nervous system and took place from 2008 to 2009 years. 3 MRSA isolates collected from staff screening were also included. 44 MRSA isolates were identified using the Vitek automated system. Antimicrobial susceptibility patterns were determined by disk-diffusion method. All isolates were typed by PFGE using SmaI enzyme. Enterotoxin A gene was detected by PCR method. The study confirmed horizontal transmission of epidemic strain of MRSA in the pediatric units, but no connection between clinical symptoms and Staphylococcus aureus not produsing the exotoxin excluded a true outbreak. This pseudo-outbreak emphasizes the importance of cooperation between the microbiology lab and ward personnel for both: competent diagnosis of illness as well as nosocomial infection surveillance and control activities. The key to the described situation was failure to use approciate criteria to diagnose infection. On the other hand it turned out to be a good time for preparing new hygiene procedures and an aggressive educational program for ward staff and parents that promotes best transmission prevention practices.
authors.affiliation: Zakład Bakteriologii, Parazytologii i Ekologii Drobnoustrojów Katedra Mikrobiologii Uniwersytetu Jagiellońskiego Collegium Medicum. mbmach@cyf-kr.edu.pl
authors.forename: Jadwiga
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wójkowska-Mach
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Jurkiewicz-Badacz
authors.forename: Agnieszka
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chmielarczyk
authors.forename: Ewelina
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Foryciarz
authors.forename: Magda
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baran
authors.forename: Dorota
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Romaniszyn
authors.forename: Piotr B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Heczko
mesh_terms: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005243:Feces / Q000382:microbiology; D005260:Female; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene; D007223:Infant; D017757:Infectious Disease Transmission, Professional-to-Patient / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics*; D011044:Poland; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents