Outbreak of Tsukamurella species bloodstream infection among patients at an oncology clinic, West Virginia, 2011-2012. 2014

Isaac See, and Duc B Nguyen, and Somu Chatterjee, and Thein Shwe, and Melissa Scott, and Sherif Ibrahim, and Heather Moulton-Meissner, and Steven McNulty, and Judith Noble-Wang, and Cindy Price, and Kim Schramm, and Danae Bixler, and Alice Y Guh
Epidemic Intelligence Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia.

OBJECTIVE To determine the source and identify control measures of an outbreak of Tsukamurella species bloodstream infections at an outpatient oncology facility. METHODS Epidemiologic investigation of the outbreak with a case-control study. METHODS A case was an infection in which Tsukamurella species was isolated from a blood or catheter tip culture during the period January 2011 through June 2012 from a patient of the oncology clinic. Laboratory records of area hospitals and patient charts were reviewed. A case-control study was conducted among clinic patients to identify risk factors for Tsukamurella species bloodstream infection. Clinic staff were interviewed, and infection control practices were assessed. RESULTS Fifteen cases of Tsukamurella (Tsukamurella pulmonis or Tsukamurella tyrosinosolvens) bloodstream infection were identified, all in patients with underlying malignancy and indwelling central lines. The median age of case patients was 68 years; 47% were male. The only significant risk factor for infection was receipt of saline flush from the clinic during the period September-October 2011 (P = .03), when the clinic had been preparing saline flush from a common-source bag of saline. Other infection control deficiencies that were identified at the clinic included suboptimal procedures for central line access and preparation of chemotherapy. CONCLUSIONS Although multiple infection control lapses were identified, the outbreak was likely caused by improper preparation of saline flush syringes by the clinic. The outbreak demonstrates that bloodstream infections among oncology patients can result from improper infection control practices and highlights the critical need for increased attention to and oversight of infection control in outpatient oncology settings.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D008297 Male Males
D008495 Medical Oncology A subspecialty of internal medicine concerned with the study of neoplasms. Oncology, Medical,Clinical Oncology,Oncology, Clinical
D008875 Middle Aged An adult aged 45 - 64 years. Middle Age
D002405 Catheterization, Central Venous Placement of an intravenous CATHETER in the subclavian, jugular, or other central vein. Central Venous Catheterization,Venous Catheterization, Central,Catheterization, Central,Central Catheterization,Catheterizations, Central,Catheterizations, Central Venous,Central Catheterizations,Central Venous Catheterizations,Venous Catheterizations, Central
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
D004196 Disease Outbreaks Sudden increase in the incidence of a disease. The concept includes EPIDEMICS and PANDEMICS. Outbreaks,Infectious Disease Outbreaks,Disease Outbreak,Disease Outbreak, Infectious,Disease Outbreaks, Infectious,Infectious Disease Outbreak,Outbreak, Disease,Outbreak, Infectious Disease,Outbreaks, Disease,Outbreaks, Infectious Disease
D005260 Female Females
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000192 Actinomycetales An order of gram-positive, primarily aerobic BACTERIA that tend to form branching filaments. Corynebacteriaceae,Coryneform Group
D000193 Actinomycetales Infections Infections with bacteria of the order ACTINOMYCETALES. Actinomycete Infections,Infections, Actinomycetales,Infections, Actinomycete,Actinomycetales Infection,Actinomycete Infection,Infection, Actinomycetales,Infection, Actinomycete

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