Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-v9fdk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-10T04:43:04.541Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Pandora’s box in the dental clinic

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  20 May 2021

Debby Ben-David*
Affiliation:
National Center for Infection Control, Israel Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel Tel Aviv University Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel
Azza Vaturi
Affiliation:
National Center for Infection Control, Israel Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
Ester Solter
Affiliation:
National Center for Infection Control, Israel Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
Bina Rubinovitch
Affiliation:
Beilinson Hospital, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tikva, Israel
Jonathan Lellouche
Affiliation:
National Center for Infection Control, Israel Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
David Schwartz
Affiliation:
National Center for Infection Control, Israel Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel
Vered Schechner
Affiliation:
National Center for Infection Control, Israel Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel Tel Aviv University Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel
Yehuda Carmeli
Affiliation:
National Center for Infection Control, Israel Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel Tel Aviv University Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel
Mitchell J. Schwaber
Affiliation:
National Center for Infection Control, Israel Ministry of Health, Tel Aviv, Israel Tel Aviv University Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv, Israel
*
Author for correspondence: Debby Ben-David, E-mail: debbybd@tlvmc.gov.il

Abstract

Background:

In June 2018, the Ministry of Health received notification from 2 hospitals about 2 patients who presented with overwhelming Enterobacter kobei sepsis that developed within 24 hours after a dental procedure. We describe the investigation of this outbreak.

Methods:

The epidemiologic investigation included site visits in 2 dental clinics and interviews with all involved healthcare workers. Chart reviews were conducted for case and control subjects. Samples were taken from medications and antiseptics, environmental surfaces, dental water systems, and from the involved healthcare professionals. Isolate similarity was assessed using repetitive element sequence-based polymerase chain reaction (REP-PCR).

Results:

The 2 procedures were conducted in different dental clinics by different surgeons and dental technicians. A single anesthesiologist administered the systemic anesthetic in both cases. Cultures from medications, fluids and healthcare workers’ hands were negative, but E. kobei was detected from the anesthesiologist’s portable medication cart. The 2 human isolates and the environmental isolate shared the same REP-PCR fingerprinting profile. None of the 21 patients treated by the anesthesiologist in a general hospital during the same period, using the hospital’s medications, developed infection following surgery.

Conclusions:

An outbreak of post–dental-procedure sepsis was linked to a contaminated medication cart, emphasizing the importance of medication storage standards and strict aseptic technique when preparing intravenous drugs during anesthesia. Immediate reporting of sepsis following these outpatient procedures enabled early identification and termination of the outbreak.

Type
Original Article
Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Dewhirst, FE, Chen, T, Izard, J, et al. The human oral microbiome. J Bacteriol 2010;192:50025017.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Laheij, AMGA, Kistler, JO, Belibasakis, GN, Välimaa, H, de Soet, JJ. Healthcare-associated viral and bacterial infections in dentistry. J Oral Microbiol 2012;4. doi: 10.3402/jom.v4i0.17659.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Mutters, NT, Hägele, U, Hagenfeld, D, Hellwig, E, Frank, U. Compliance with infection control practices in an university hospital dental clinic. GMS Hyg Infect Control 2014;9(3):Doc18. doi: 10.3205/dgkh000238.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
de Amorim-Finzi, MB, Cury, MVC, Costa, CRR, Dos Santos, AC, de Melo, GB. Rate of compliance with hand hygiene by dental healthcare personnel (DHCP) within a dentistry healthcare first aid facility. Eur J Dent 2010;4:233237.Google ScholarPubMed
Oosthuysen, J, Potgieter, E, Fossey, A. Compliance with infection prevention and control in oral health-care facilities: a global perspective. Int Dent J 2014;64:297311.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Radcliffe, RA, Bixler, D, Moorman, A, et al. Hepatitis B virus transmissions associated with a portable dental clinic, West Virginia, 2009. J Am Dent Assoc 1939 2013;144:11101118.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ross, KM, Mehr, JS, Greeley, RD, et al. Outbreak of bacterial endocarditis associated with an oral surgery practice: New Jersey public health surveillance, 2013 to 2014. J Am Dent Assoc 1939 2018;149:191201.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Scarano, A, Degidi, M, Iezzi, G, et al. Maxillary sinus augmentation with different biomaterials: a comparative histologic and histomorphometric study in man. Implant Dent 2006;15:197207.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
ISO 11737-1:2018 Sterilization of health care products—Microbiological methods—Part 1: Determination of a population of microorganisms on products. International Organization for Standardization website. https://www.iso.org/standard/66451.html. Accessed March 19, 2021.Google Scholar
ISO 11737-2:2019 Sterilization of health care products—Microbiological methods—Part 2: Tests of sterility performed in the definition, validation and maintenance of a sterilization process. International Organization for Standardization website. https://www.iso.org/standard/70801.html. Accessed March 19, 2021.Google Scholar
Microbiological examination of nonsterile products: microbial enumeration tests. Monograph 61. US Pharmacopeia website. https://www.usp.org/sites/default/files/usp/document/harmonization/gen-method/q05b_pf_ira_34_6_2008.pdf. Accessed March 19, 2021.Google Scholar
Microbiological examination of nonsterile products: tests for specified microorganisms. EMonograph 62. US Pharmacopeia website. https://www.usp.org/sites/default/files/usp/document/harmonization/gen-method/q05a_pf_ira_34_6_2008.pdf. Accessed March 19, 2021.Google Scholar
ISO 8199:2018. Water quality—general requirements and guidance for microbiological examinations by culture. International Organization for Standardization website. https://www.iso.org/standard/70801.html. Accessed March 19, 2021.Google Scholar
Viau, RA, Kiedrowski, LM, Kreiswirth, BN, et al. A comparison of molecular typing methods applied to Enterobacter cloacae complex: hsp60 sequencing, Rep-PCR, and MLST. Pathog Immun 2017;2:2333.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Tenover, FC, Arbeit, RD, Goering, RV, et al. Interpreting chromosomal DNA restriction patterns produced by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis: criteria for bacterial strain typing. J Clin Microbiol 1995;33:22332239.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Dobbs, TE, Guh, AY, Oakes, P, et al. Outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Klebsiella pneumoniae bloodstream infections at an outpatient chemotherapy center. Am J Infect Control 2014;42:731734.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Perz, JF, Thompson, ND, Schaefer, MK, Patel, PR. US outbreak investigations highlight the need for safe injection practices and basic infection control. Clin Liver Dis 2010;14:137151.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Ross, KM, Mehr, JS, Carothers, BL, et al. Bacterial septic arthritis infections associated with intra-articular injection practices for osteoarthritis knee pain-New Jersey, 2017. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2019;40:10131018.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Munoz-Price, LS, Bowdle, A, Johnston, BL, et al. Infection prevention in the operating room anesthesia work area. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018. doi: 10.1017/ice.2018.303.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Pasquarella, C, Veronesi, L, Napoli, C, et al. Microbial environmental contamination in Italian dental clinics: a multicenter study yielding recommendations for standardized sampling methods and threshold values. Sci Total Environ 2012;420:289299.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ricci, ML, Fontana, S, Pinci, F, et al. Pneumonia associated with a dental unit waterline. Lancet Lond Engl 2012;379:684.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Hatzenbuehler, LA, Tobin-D’Angelo, M, Drenzek, C, et al. Pediatric dental clinic-associated outbreak of Mycobacterium abscessus infection. J Pediatr Infect Dis Soc 2017;6(3):e116e122.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kurita, H, Kurashina, K, Honda, T. Nosocomial transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus via the surfaces of the dental operatory. Br Dent J 2006;201:297300.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sood, G, Perl, TM. Outbreaks in healthcare settings. Infect Dis Clin N Am 2016;30:661687.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Oyong, K, Coelho, L, Bancroft, E, Terashita, D. Health care-associated infection outbreak investigations in outpatient settings, Los Angeles County, California, USA, 2000–2012. Emerg Infect Dis 2015;21:13171321.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Suleyman, G, Alangaden, G, Bardossy, AC. The role of environmental contamination in the transmission of nosocomial pathogens and healthcare-associated infections. Curr Infect Dis Rep 2018;20(6):12.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Boyce, JM. Environmental contamination makes an important contribution to hospital infection. J Hosp Infect 2007;65 suppl 2:5054.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Weber, DJ, Rutala, WA, Miller, MB, Huslage, K, Sickbert-Bennett, E. Role of hospital surfaces in the transmission of emerging health care-associated pathogens: norovirus, Clostridium difficile, and Acinetobacter species. Am J Infect Control 2010;38(5 suppl 1):S25S33.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Loftus, RW, Koff, MD, Burchman, CC, et al. Transmission of pathogenic bacterial organisms in the anesthesia work area. Anesthesiology 2008;109:399407.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Loftus, RW, Brown, JR, Patel, HM, et al. Transmission dynamics of gram-negative bacterial pathogens in the anesthesia work area. Anesth Analg 2015;120:819826.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Gargiulo, DA, Sheridan, J, Webster, CS, et al. Anaesthetic drug administration as a potential contributor to healthcare-associated infections: a prospective simulation-based evaluation of aseptic techniques in the administration of anaesthetic drugs. BMJ Qual Saf 2012;21:826834.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Austin, PD, Hand, KS, Elia, M. Systematic review and meta-analysis of the risk of microbial contamination of parenteral doses prepared under aseptic techniques in clinical and pharmaceutical environments: an update. J Hosp Infect 2015;91:306318.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Suvikas-Peltonen, E, Hakoinen, S, Celikkayalar, E, Laaksonen, R, Airaksinen, M. Incorrect aseptic techniques in medicine preparation and recommendations for safer practices: a systematic review. Eur J Hosp Pharm Sci Pract 2017;24:175181.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Good storage and distribution practices. World Health Organization website. https://www.who.int/medicines/areas/quality_safety/quality_assurance/qas19_793_good_storage_and_distribution_practices_may_2019.pdf?ua=1. Published May 2019. Accessed March 19, 2021.Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Ben-David et al. supplementary material

Ben-David et al. supplementary material

Download Ben-David et al. supplementary material(File)
File 17.8 KB