title: Airborne transmission from a neonate with Netherton syndrome during an outbreak of MRSA.
abstract: We encountered a 4 month outbreak of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization or infection that was difficult to control despite implementation of standard prevention methods. A neonate with Netherton syndrome had accelerated scaling of the skin and continued positive results for MRSA from clinical samples. The results of air sampling suggested the possibility of airborne transmission. The MRSA outbreak stopped after the patient was transferred to an isolation room, suggesting that airborne MRSA can play a role in MRSA colonization. Isolation rooms should be considered in specific circumstances, as described in the present study.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Toyota Memorial Hospital, Toyota, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinya
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hara
authors.affiliation: Department of Neonatology, Toyota Memorial Hospital, Toyota, Japan.
authors.forename: Hikaru
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Toyota Memorial Hospital, Toyota, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kawabata
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Toyota Memorial Hospital, Toyota, Japan.
authors.forename: Teiji
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Azuma
authors.affiliation: Department of Infectious Diseases, Toyota Memorial Hospital, Toyota, Japan.
authors.forename: Sachie
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ishii
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Toyota Memorial Hospital, Toyota, Japan.
authors.forename: Naoya
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Okumura
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: Yoshinori
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ito
keywords: Netherton syndrome; airborne outbreak; methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; neonatal intensive care unit