title: Cluster of Fusarium verticillioides bloodstream infections among immunocompetent patients in an internal medicine department after reconstruction works in Larissa, Central Greece.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Fusarium spp. can cause disseminated infections, particularly in immunocompromised patients. Fusarium verticillioides is a human pathogen, and sporadic cases of fusariosis have been reported.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To report a nosocomial cluster of F. verticillioides bloodstream infections among seven immunocompetent inpatients following reconstruction works.
  
  
  METHODS
  Identification was performed using macroscopic and microscopic morphology, and molecular assays (sequencing the nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacer region and translation elongation factor-1α gene). Susceptibility testing was performed in accordance with the guidelines of the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute. Environmental surveillance specimens were taken and cultured on Sabouraud dextrose agar plates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In total, 16 blood cultures obtained from the seven patients were positive for F. verticillioides. All surveillance cultures were negative.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In order to prevent fungaemia, it is important to implement effective infection control measures, before, during and after demolition and construction activities in healthcare settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Research Laboratory of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Thessaly, Greece.
authors.forename: S P
authors.initials: SP
authors.lastname: Georgiadou
authors.affiliation: Mycology Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Velegraki
authors.affiliation: Mycology Research Laboratory, Department of Microbiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arabatzis
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Thessaly, Greece.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Neonakis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biopathology and Clinical Microbiology, Athens Medical School, Aeginition Hospital, Athens, Greece.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Chatzipanagiotou
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine and Research Laboratory of Internal Medicine, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Thessaly, Greece.
authors.forename: G N
authors.initials: GN
authors.lastname: Dalekos
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Thessaly, Greece. Electronic address: petinaki@med.uth.gr.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Petinaki
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D003955:Diagnostic Tests, Routine; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D016469:Fungemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D060585:Fusariosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D005670:Fusarium / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006115:Greece / Q000453:epidemiology; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D008828:Microbiological Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged
keywords: Fusarium verticillioides; Nosocomial outbreak; Reconstruction