A pseudo-outbreak of Pseudomonas on a special care baby unit. 1990

S Heard, and S Lawrence, and B Holmes, and M Costas
Department of Medical Microbiology, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, London.

Following isolation of a multi-antibiotic-resistant pseudomonad from a newborn infant on admission to the Special Care Baby Unit and further isolation of apparently the same organism from two additional infants, a full investigation was instigated in an attempt to discover the source of the organism. This revealed a further 13 infants apparently colonized with the same organism. Repeated screening of the infants with a commercial sterile swab/transport medium failed to isolate the organism. Examination of bottles of the in-house transport medium, which had been stored under a sink, produced further isolates of the same organism. Water splashed from the sink was suspected as the ultimate source of contamination. Biochemical characterization showed that P. pickettii and at least one other Pseudomonas species were involved. The epidemiological, clinical and economic implications of the 'outbreak' are discussed together with the ultimate financial implications for investigation of such incidents.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007231 Infant, Newborn An infant during the first 28 days after birth. Neonate,Newborns,Infants, Newborn,Neonates,Newborn,Newborn Infant,Newborn Infants
D007363 Intensive Care Units, Neonatal Hospital units providing continuing surveillance and care to acutely ill newborn infants. Neonatal Intensive Care Unit,Neonatal Intensive Care Units,Newborn Intensive Care Unit,Newborn Intensive Care Units,ICU, Neonatal,Neonatal ICU,Newborn ICU,Newborn Intensive Care Units (NICU),ICU, Newborn,ICUs, Neonatal,ICUs, Newborn,Neonatal ICUs,Newborn ICUs
D008131 London The capital of the United Kingdom. It is located in England.
D011549 Pseudomonas A genus of gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria widely distributed in nature. Some species are pathogenic for humans, animals, and plants. Chryseomonas,Pseudomona,Flavimonas
D011552 Pseudomonas Infections Infections with bacteria of the genus PSEUDOMONAS. Infections, Pseudomonas,Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infection,Infection, Pseudomonas,Pseudomonas Infection,Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections
D003428 Cross Infection Any infection which a patient contracts in a health-care institution. Hospital Infections,Nosocomial Infections,Health Care Associated Infection,Health Care Associated Infections,Healthcare Associated Infections,Infection, Cross,Infections, Hospital,Infections, Nosocomial,Cross Infections,Healthcare Associated Infection,Hospital Infection,Infection, Healthcare Associated,Infection, Hospital,Infection, Nosocomial,Infections, Cross,Infections, Healthcare Associated,Nosocomial Infection
D004866 Equipment Contamination The presence of an infectious agent on instruments, prostheses, or other inanimate articles. Contamination, Equipment,Contaminations, Equipment,Equipment Contaminations
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D015370 Infant Equipment Equipment and furniture used by infants and babies in the home, car, and play area. Baby Equipment,Cribs,Equipment, Infant,High Chairs,Infant Furniture,Infant Strollers,Infant Swings,Infant Walkers,Baby Strollers,Baby Swings,Baby Walkers,Baby Stroller,Baby Swing,Baby Walker,Chair, High,Chairs, High,Crib,Equipment, Baby,Furniture, Infant,High Chair,Infant Stroller,Infant Swing,Infant Walker,Stroller, Baby,Stroller, Infant,Strollers, Baby,Strollers, Infant,Swing, Baby,Swing, Infant,Swings, Baby,Swings, Infant,Walker, Baby,Walker, Infant,Walkers, Baby,Walkers, Infant

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