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Nosocomial outbreak of colonization and infection with Stenotrophomonas maltophilia in preterm infants associated with contaminated tap water

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 June 1998

P. E. VERWEIJ ,
J. F. G. M. MEIS ,
V. CHRISTMANN ,
M. VAN DER BOR ,
W. J. G. MELCHERS ,
B. G. M. HILDERINK  and
A. VOSS
P. E. VERWEIJ
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Nijmegen, P.O. box 9101, 6500 BH Nijmegen, The Netherlands
J. F. G. M. MEIS
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Nijmegen, P.O. box 9101, 6500 BH Nijmegen, The Netherlands
V. CHRISTMANN
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
M. VAN DER BOR
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
W. J. G. MELCHERS
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Nijmegen, P.O. box 9101, 6500 BH Nijmegen, The Netherlands
B. G. M. HILDERINK
Affiliation:
Department of Paediatrics, University Hospital Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
A. VOSS
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Nijmegen, P.O. box 9101, 6500 BH Nijmegen, The Netherlands
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Abstract

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Between March and May 1996 Stenotrophomonas maltophilia was cultured from endotracheal aspirate samples from five preterm infants in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Four infants were superficially colonized, but a fifth died due to S. maltophilia septicaemia. S. maltophilia was cultured from tap water from three outlets in the NICU including one with a previously unnoticed defective sink drain. Water from these outlets was used to wash the preterm infants. Environmental and clinical S. maltophilia isolates yielded identical banding patterns on random arbitrary polymorphic DNA (RAPD) PCR analysis. The outbreak was controlled by reinforcement of hand disinfection, limitation of the use of tap water for hand washing and by using sterile water to wash the preterm infants. We conclude that tap water should not be used for washing preterm infants in the NICU, unless steps are taken to prevent microbial growth in the outlets.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 120 , Issue 3 , June 1998 , pp. 251 - 256
Copyright
1998 Cambridge University Press