title: [Outbreak due to Serratia marcescens associated with intrinsic contamination of aqueous chlorhexidine].
abstract: Serratia marcescens is a widely distributed gram-negative rod, often associated to nosocomial infections. Some outbreaks linked to contaminated antiseptic solutions have been reported. In this study we report a nosocomial outbreak of surgical site infection and catheter insertion site infection due to S. marcescens. 33 patients with positive cultures were studied after an index case was identified. Epidemiological, microbiological and molecular analysis demostrated an intrinsic contamination of alcohol free chlorhexidine solution as causal factor. Positive cultures were associated with 13 clinical infections, 9 colonized patients, 6 pseudobacteremia episodes and 5 patients without documented exposure. Hospital and national recall of contaminated chlorhexidine solution was performed after this study. Intrinsic contamination of antiseptic solutions is an infrequent cause of nosocomial infections with major epidemiological relevance.
authors.forename: Beatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Hervé
authors.forename: May
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Chomali
authors.forename: Cecilia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.forename: Mariana
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Luna
authors.forename: Jeannette
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Rivas
authors.forename: Rodrigo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Blamey
authors.forename: Ricardo
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Espinoza
authors.forename: Giannina
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Izquierdo
authors.forename: Catalina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Cabezas
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alvarez
authors.forename: Sebastián
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: de la Fuente
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002710:Chlorhexidine; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D004202:Disinfectants; D004340:Drug Contamination; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012621:Seasons; D016868:Serratia Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants; D002710:Chlorhexidine