To describe the epidemiology of a cluster of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VAREC) in a cardiothoracic surgery intensive care unit.

A case series of patients identified through review of surveillance data on nosocomial infections, review of microbiologic records, and culture survey of patients in the unit.

Six patients in the cardiothoracic surgery intensive care unit had VAREC with identical antimicrobic susceptibility patterns over a 6-month period. Four patients were identified with VAREC through prospective surveillance and 2 through retrospective review. Prior vancomycin use was seen more commonly in patients with VAREC (6/6,100%) than in those without VAREC (3/12, 25%) (Fisher’s exact test, p= .01). Six of the 7 patients with prior infection developed VAREC (85.7%). A prior nosocomial infection and prior exposure to vancomycin were found to be important variables in a logistic regression analysis. VAREC also was isolated from the environment. Acombination of cohorting of patients and staff, and modifications of standard contact isolation practices eliminated the presence of VAREC from the cardiothoracic surgery intensive care unit.

The results suggest that prior administration of vancomycin, especially in the patient who develops nosocomial infection, can influence the acquisition of vancomycin-resistant enterococci and that VAREC may be transmitted from patient to patient. Using a modification of the standard infection control practice of isolation, we were able to control the spread of this resistant strain of E faecium.

To determine risk factors for and modes of transmission of Xanthomonas maltophilia infection/colonization.

Surveillance and cohort study.

A 470-bed tertiary trauma-referral community hospital.

From January 1, 1988 to March 17, 1989,106 intensive care unit patients developed X maltophilia infection/colonization. We defined a case as any intensive care unit patient who, from July 15, 1988, through March 17, 1989 (epidemic period), had X maltophilia infection/colonization ≥48 hours after intensive care unit admission. We identified 45 case patients and 103 control patients (persons in the shock-trauma intensive care unit for ≥72 hours during the epidemic period who had no X maltophilia-positive culture).

Cases were significantly more likely to occur in the shock-trauma intensive care unit than in all other intensive care units combined. Mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy, being transported to the hospital by airplane, and receipt of a higher mean number of antimicrobials were risk factors for X maltophilia infection/colonization. Risk of X maltophilia infection/colonization was significantly greater among cases exposed to a patient with a X maltophilia surgical wound infection than among those without such exposure (relative risk= 1.3, p= .03). Animate and inanimate cultures revealed X maltophilia contamination of the hospital room of a patient with an X maltophilia surgical wound infection, of respiratory therapy equipment in this patient% room, of respirometers shared between patients, and of shock-trauma intensive care unit personnel’s hands. Related environmental and clinical isolates were serotype 10.

Mechanically ventilated patients receiving antimicrobials in the shock-trauma intensive care unit were at increased risk of X maltophilia infection/colonization. Patients with draining X maltophilia surgical wound infections served as reservoirs for X maltophilia, and contamination of the respirometers and the hands of shock-trauma intensive care unit personnel resulted in patient-to-patient transmission of X maltophilia.

To determine the clean surgical wound infection rate for breast procedures and the risk factors predisposing patients to these infections.

A survey study.

Oncology center.

A consecutive sample of adult female patients who underwent surgical breast procedures for suspected carcinoma of the breast. Patients undergoing excisional biopsy, lumpectomy, or mastectomy from January 1985 to January 1987 were included in the study.

Clean surgical wound infection rates were derived overall and for each procedure type. The medical records of all patients were then reviewed to extract data on patient characteristics and operative information in order to assess the risk factors for infection.

Among the breast procedures performed on 448 patients, the overall clean surgical wound infection rate was 8.7% (39/448). The clean surgical wound infection rate for each procedure type was as follows: biopsy 2.3%, lumpectomy 6.6%, and mastectomy 19%. In addition to the type of procedure, factors significantly (p< .05) associated with the development of clean surgical wound infection in the univariate analysis included: presence of surgical drains (p<.01); closed suction drainage (odds ratio [OR] = 16.5, 95% confidence interval [CI95] = 5.0-54.7); location of the drain (OR = 3.3, CI95= 1.7-6.6); prolonged preoperative stay (OR= 1.2, CI,, = 1.0-1.5); length of surgery (OR=2.2, CI95= 1.7-3.0); and greater mean age (OR= 1.6, CI,, = 1.2-2.1).

Clean surgical wound infections are not uncommon in patients undergoing breast procedures. Factors relating to both the patient and operative techniques contribute to the clean surgical wound infection rate. Further consideration should be given to perioperative antibiotic prophylaxis for selected breast procedures, and the role of surgical drains should be reassessed.

To determine the impact of catheter management on the acute and long-term outcome of catheter-related coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteremia.

Retrospective surveillance of catheter-related sepsis using quantitative blood and catheter cultures.

University-affiliated tertiary cancer center.

seventy patients with catheter-related coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteremia were studied by retrospective chart review. The clinical characteristics of the patients and the management of the bacteremias were determined. The impact of immuno-suppressive risk factors, antibiotic therapy, and catheter management on the recurrence of the bacteremia was investigated.

Acute sepsis-related morbidity and mortality were not related to catheter management. However, during a 12-week followup period, the bacteremia recurred in 20% of the patients whose catheters remained in place, compared with only 3% of those whose catheters were removed (p<.05). By multivariate analysis, patients whose catheters remained in place were 2.9 times more likely to experience a recurrence than those whose catheters were removed (odds ratio = 2.9, 95% confidence interval = 1.2-8.8, p= .03). All other potential risk factors were equally distributed between patients, with and without a recurrence.

Although patients with catheter-related coagulase-negative staphylococcal bacteremia could be treated successfully while the catheter remains in place with the majority remaining free of recurrence, catheter retention results in a significantly higher risk for the recurrence of the bacteremia.