title: Transmission of metallo-β-lactamase-producing Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a nephrology-transplant intensive care unit with potential link to the environment.
abstract: Pseudomonas aeruginosa has been recovered in hospitals from many different sources including sinks and taps. Because P. aeruginosa is one of the main agents of nosocomial infections and increasingly resistant to antibiotics, environmental reservoirs in hospital settings are of great concern. We report here on a cluster of five cases of infection by P. aeruginosa expressing VIM carbapenemases (VIM-PA) in a nephrology intensive care unit. Our investigation pointed to transmission of VIM-PA via hands related to a contaminated tap. VIM-PA may be cross-transmitted to other patients if an environmental reservoir exists. Sinks and taps should be well designed and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected, and use of alcohol hand rub should be promoted.
authors.affiliation: Equipe Opérationnelle d'Hygiène Hospitalière, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France. Electronic address: amva@hotmail.fr.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Ambrogi
authors.affiliation: Biologie - bactériologie hygiène, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France; INSERM UMR1043, CNRS UMR5282, Université Toulouse III-INRA USC1360, France.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cavalié
authors.affiliation: Biologie - bactériologie hygiène, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Mantion
authors.affiliation: Services Techniques, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: M-J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Ghiglia
authors.affiliation: Réanimation de transplantation rénale, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Cointault
authors.affiliation: Biologie - bactériologie hygiène, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France; INSERM UMR1043, CNRS UMR5282, Université Toulouse III-INRA USC1360, France.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Dubois
authors.affiliation: Biologie - bactériologie hygiène, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France; Laboratoire de Microbiologie et Génétique Moléculaires, MR 5100, Université Toulouse III, France.
authors.forename: M-F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Prère
authors.affiliation: Equipe Opérationnelle d'Hygiène Hospitalière, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Levitzki
authors.affiliation: Réanimation de transplantation rénale, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France; INSERM U1043, IFR-BMT, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France; Université Toulouse III, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kamar
authors.affiliation: Equipe Opérationnelle d'Hygiène Hospitalière, CHU Toulouse, Toulouse, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Malavaud
mesh_terms: D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D016030:Kidney Transplantation; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000145:classification / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D066027:Transplant Recipients; D001618:beta-Lactamases / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D001618:beta-Lactamases; C063912:carbapenemase
keywords: Environmental source; Intensive care unit; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; VIM carbapenemase