title: Contaminated handwashing sinks as the source of a clonal outbreak of KPC-2-producing Klebsiella oxytoca on a hematology ward.
abstract: We investigated sinks as possible sources of a prolonged Klebsiella pneumonia carbapenemase (KPC)-producing Klebsiella oxytoca outbreak. Seven carbapenem-resistant K. oxytoca isolates were identified in sink drains in 4 patient rooms and in the medication room. Investigations for resistance genes and genetic relatedness of patient and environmental isolates revealed that all the isolates harbored the blaKPC-2 and blaTEM-1 genes and were genetically indistinguishable. We describe here a clonal outbreak caused by KPC-2-producing K. oxytoca, and handwashing sinks were a possible reservoir.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Leitner
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Gernot
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Zarfel
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Josefa
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Luxner
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Kathrin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Herzog
authors.affiliation: Austrian Agency for Health and Food Safety, Institute of Medical Microbiology and Hygiene, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Shiva
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Pekard-Amenitsch
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Martin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hoenigl
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Valentin
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Gebhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Feierl
authors.affiliation: Institute of Hygiene Microbiology and Environmental Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Andrea J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Grisold
authors.affiliation: Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Christoph
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Högenauer
authors.affiliation: Division of Hematology, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Heinz
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sill
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria.
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Krause
authors.affiliation: Section of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Medical University of Graz, Graz, Austria ines.schwetz@medunigraz.at.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zollner-Schwetz
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006235:Hand Disinfection; D006405:Hematology; D006748:Hospital Departments; D006801:Humans; D007710:Klebsiella Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D041121:Klebsiella oxytoca / Q000201:enzymology; D001618:beta-Lactamases
chemical_list: C491478:beta-lactamase KPC-2; D001618:beta-Lactamases