title: An outbreak of Streptococcus pyogenes surgical site infections in a cardiovascular surgery department.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  We report an outbreak of surgical site infections due to genetically related strains of Streptococcus pyogenes in a cardiovascular surgery department.
  
  
  METHODS
  The practices that were possibly related to the outbreak were investigated through direct observation and interviews with staff by an infection control team. Surveillance sampling from patients, health-care workers, and environment were done for the investigation of the source. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis was used to investigate a clonal relationship among the S. pyogenes isolates.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Four patients operated on in the cardiovascular surgery department developed surgical site infection due to S. pyogenes. Molecular characterization of S. pyogenes done by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis revealed the same strain.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although a definite source for the outbreak could not be identified, probably lack of adherence to hand hygiene practices during surgical dressings, contamination, and cross contamination led to this outbreak.
authors.affiliation: 1 Department of Infectious Diseases and Clinical Microbiology, Türkiye Yüksek İhtisas Education and Research Hospital , Ankara, Turkey .
authors.forename: Yasemin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Tezer Tekçe
authors.forename: Ayşe
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Erbay
authors.forename: Özlem
authors.initials: Ö
authors.lastname: Ünaldı
authors.forename: Hatice
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Çabadak
authors.forename: Süha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Şen
authors.forename: Rıza
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Durmaz
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D013504:Cardiovascular Surgical Procedures / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005260:Female; D006757:Hospital Units; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D013297:Streptococcus pyogenes; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D014421:Turkey / Q000453:epidemiology