Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia Complex Due to Multiple Brands of Contaminated Aqueous Chlorhexidine in Hong Kong

Abstract

Background: Contaminated chlorhexidine produced by a single company has been implicated in the outbreak or pseudo-outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC). However, simultaneous occurrence of multiple brands of contaminated chlorhexidine supplied by different manufacturers resulting in a persistent outbreak for >1 year has not been well described. Objective: We report an outbreak of BCC with epidemiological investigation and using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) analysis of patient and environmental isolates in Hong Kong. Methods: Upon the investigation of a cohort of renal patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis colonized or infected with BCC in their exit sites, different brands of 0.05% aqueous chlorhexidine (aqCHX) used for exit site dressing, supplied from hospital or purchased from community pharmacies by patients, were cultured. A risk factor analysis for exit-site acquisition of BCC was performed. A site visit to a local manufacturer was conducted to investigate the process of production and to collect environmental samples for culture, which were further analyzed by WGS along with the BCC isolates cultured from patients and aqCHX purchased from community pharmacies. Results: Four patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis had cultures positive for BCC in the exit site swab in September 2019. A snapshot screening revealed 88 (32.0%) of 275 renal dialysis patients colonized with BCC. Of these patients, 47 (17.1%) were newly diagnosed and 41 (14.9%) were known to be colonized or infected with BCC according to retrospective data retrieval from January 1, 2018. A significantly greater proportion of patients with newly diagnosed BCC (cases) had used contaminated aqCHX for exit-site dressing than those with culture negative for BCC (controls): 38 of 47 (80.9%) versus 54 of 187 (28.9%) (P < .001). Of 161 aqCHX samples, 10 brands from 4 manufacturers (purchased from community pharmacies), 125 (77.6%) were culture positive for BCC, whereas all 77 aqCHX samples supplied by the hospital, which are different brands and are produced by different manufacturers, were proven to be sterile. Of the 28 environmental samples taken from a local manufacturer during the site visit, 19 samples (67.9%, 3 collected from the instrument for production of aqCHX and all 16 newly produced aqCHX samples) were culture positive for BCC. WGS revealed 3 major clusters characterized by B. cenocepacia genomovar IIIA ST1547 and 2 novel MLST clusters from 52 patients and 26 environmental isolates selected. Conclusions: This outbreak was terminated by product recall, and the government has decided to take regulatory actions to ensure the sterility of antiseptics, including aqCHX.

Funding: None

Disclosures: None