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Benbow A, Clarke M, Yates C, Montgomery R, Staniforth K, Boswell T, Prescott K, Mahida N. Hospital-wide healthcare-associated carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales outbreak: risks of electric floor scrubbers in catering facilities and kitchens. J Hosp Infect 2024; 146:59-65. [PMID: 38341149 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2024.01.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) are associated with poor clinical outcomes and can spread rapidly in healthcare settings. Environmental reservoirs are increasingly recognized as playing an important part in some nosocomial outbreaks. AIM To describe the investigation and control of a CPE outbreak, lasting several years, across two separate hospital sites within one organization. METHODS Investigation of multiple ward-level CPE cross-transmissions with a number of sporadic cases. Environmental sampling of ward environments, catering facilities and electric floor scrubbers was undertaken. FINDINGS Eleven patients over a 19-month period were identified as carrying healthcare-associated New Delhi metallo-beta-lactamase (NDM)-producing Enterobacter cloacae, and a further patient carried NDM Escherichia coli. E. cloacae isolates were indistinguishable on pulsed-field gel electrophoresis typing, supporting acquisition with a single point source. Environmental sampling found contamination of the electric floor scrubbers used for cleaning the hospital catering facilities and in the associated toilets. Standard outbreak response measures achieved control of ward outbreaks. Sporadic cases and hospital-wide cross-transmission were controlled after interventions on the central food-handling unit and by decommissioning affected floor scrubbers. Electric floor scrubbers were found to have the potential to disperse Gram-negative bacteria into the surrounding environment under experimental conditions. CONCLUSION This outbreak report demonstrates that catering facilities and kitchens can be involved in widespread healthcare outbreaks of enteric organisms. This is also the first report of the potential role of electric floor scrubbers in causing significant environmental contamination with CPE which may indicate a role in nosocomial transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Benbow
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.
| | - M Clarke
- Infection Prevention and Control Department, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - C Yates
- Infection Prevention and Control Department, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - R Montgomery
- Infection Prevention and Control Department, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - K Staniforth
- HCAI, Fungal, AMR, AMU and Sepsis Division, United Kingdom Health Security Agency, UK
| | - T Boswell
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - K Prescott
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - N Mahida
- Department of Medical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
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2
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Winzor G, Wilkinson M, Jumaa P, Gray J, Mahida N. A new year and new infection prevention and control opportunities from the COVID-19 legacy. J Hosp Infect 2023; 133:70-72. [PMID: 36690252 PMCID: PMC9852309 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2023.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- G Winzor
- Healthcare Infection Society, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London, WC1N, UK.
| | - M Wilkinson
- Healthcare Infection Society, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London, WC1N, UK
| | - P Jumaa
- Healthcare Infection Society, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London, WC1N, UK
| | - J Gray
- Healthcare Infection Society, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London, WC1N, UK
| | - N Mahida
- Healthcare Infection Society, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London, WC1N, UK
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3
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Affiliation(s)
- J Gray
- Healthcare Infection Society, Journal of Hospital Infection, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London WC1N, UK.
| | - N Mahida
- Healthcare Infection Society, Journal of Hospital Infection, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London WC1N, UK
| | - G Winzor
- Healthcare Infection Society, Journal of Hospital Infection, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London WC1N, UK
| | - M Wilkinson
- Healthcare Infection Society, Journal of Hospital Infection, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London WC1N, UK
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4
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Parente C, Montgomery R, Berry L, Mahida N. Impact of universal mask wearing in reducing healthcare-associated respiratory virus infections in haematology patients. J Hosp Infect 2021; 119:192-193. [PMID: 34757036 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2021.10.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- C Parente
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, UK
| | - R Montgomery
- Infection Prevention and Control Department, Nottingham City Hospital, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, UK
| | - L Berry
- Department of Clinical Virology, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, UK
| | - N Mahida
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Queens Medical Centre, Nottingham University Hospitals, Nottingham, UK.
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Affiliation(s)
- K Prescott
- Healthcare Infection Society, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London, WC1N, UK.
| | - N Mahida
- Healthcare Infection Society, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London, WC1N, UK
| | - M Wilkinson
- Healthcare Infection Society, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London, WC1N, UK
| | - J Gray
- Healthcare Infection Society, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London, WC1N, UK
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Affiliation(s)
- C Lynch
- Healthcare Infection Society, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London, WC1N, UK.
| | - N Mahida
- Healthcare Infection Society, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London, WC1N, UK
| | - J Gray
- Healthcare Infection Society, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London, WC1N, UK
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7
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Fears C, Mahida N, Oppenheim B, Lynch C, Gray J. Journal of Hospital Infection moves to Article-Based Publishing. J Hosp Infect 2020; 105:A1. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2020.04.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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8
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Affiliation(s)
- C Lynch
- Healthcare Infection Society, Journal of Hospital Infection, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London, WC1N, UK.
| | - N Mahida
- Healthcare Infection Society, Journal of Hospital Infection, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London, WC1N, UK
| | - B Oppenheim
- Healthcare Infection Society, Journal of Hospital Infection, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London, WC1N, UK
| | - J Gray
- Healthcare Infection Society, Journal of Hospital Infection, Montagu House, Wakefield Street, London, WC1N, UK
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9
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Lynch C, Mahida N, Oppenheim B, Gray J. Looking back on 2019 and commemorating 40 years of HIS and JHI. J Hosp Infect 2020; 104:1-3. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2019.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Accepted: 11/28/2019] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
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10
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Francis RV, Boswell TC, Mahida N. Preventing hospital-onset Escherichia coli bacteraemia: is hydration the solution? J Hosp Infect 2019; 103:474-475. [PMID: 31260709 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2019.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- R V Francis
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - T C Boswell
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - N Mahida
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.
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Prescott K, Mahida N, Boswell T. Healthcare worker screening in Streptococcus pyogenes outbreaks using throat and perineal swabs. J Hosp Infect 2019; 101:485-486. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2019.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2019] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
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12
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Gray J, Oppenheim B, Mahida N. The Journal of Hospital Infection - a history of infection prevention and control in 100 volumes. J Hosp Infect 2018; 100:1-8. [PMID: 30173875 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2018.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/04/2018] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- J Gray
- Journal of Hospital Infection, London, UK.
| | | | - N Mahida
- Journal of Hospital Infection, London, UK
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13
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Boswell T, Mahida N, Montgomery R, Clarke M. Enhanced surveillance of Escherichia coli healthcare-associated bloodstream infections – how many are preventable? J Hosp Infect 2018; 100:65-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2018.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2018] [Accepted: 05/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
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14
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Mahida N, Prescott K, Yates C, Spencer F, Weston V, Boswell T. Outbreak of invasive group A streptococcus: investigations using agar settle plates detect perineal shedding from a healthcare worker. J Hosp Infect 2018; 100:e209-e215. [PMID: 29605189 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2018.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 03/23/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Outbreaks of group A streptococcus (GAS) infections may occur in healthcare settings. Transmission to patients is sometimes linked to colonized healthcare workers (HCWs) and/or a contaminated environment. AIM To describe the investigation and control of an outbreak of healthcare-associated GAS on an elderly care medical ward, over six months. METHODS Four patients developed septicaemia due to GAS infection without a clinically obvious site of infection. The outbreak team undertook an investigation involving a retrospective review of GAS cases, prospective case finding, HCW screening and environmental sampling using both swabs and settle plates. Immediate control measures included source isolation and additional cleaning of the ward environment with a chlorine disinfectant and hydrogen peroxide. FINDINGS Prospective patient screening identified one additional patient with throat GAS carriage. Settle plate positivity for GAS was strongly associated with the presence of one individual HCW on the ward, who was subsequently found to have GAS perineal carriage. Contamination of a fabric-upholstered chair in an office adjacent to the ward, used by the HCW, was also detected. In total, three asymptomatic HCWs had throat GAS carriage and one HCW had both perineal and throat carriage. All isolates were typed as emm 28. CONCLUSION This is the first outbreak report demonstrating the use of settle plates in a GAS outbreak investigation on a medical ward, to identify the likely source of the outbreak. Based on this report we recommend that both throat and perineal sites should be sampled if HCW screening is undertaken during an outbreak of GAS. Fabric, soft furnishings should be excluded from clinical areas as well as any adjacent offices because pathogenic bacteria such as GAS may contaminate this environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Mahida
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.
| | - K Prescott
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - C Yates
- Infection Prevention and Control Department, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - F Spencer
- Infection Prevention and Control Department, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - V Weston
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - T Boswell
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
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15
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Montgomery R, Boswell T, Mahida N. Pseudomonas aeruginosa control in healthcare settings: outpatient dialysis units are not augmented care units. J Hosp Infect 2018; 98:65-66. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2017.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2017] [Accepted: 09/27/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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16
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Mahida N, Boswell T. Fluoroquinolone prophylaxis in haematopoietic bone marrow transplantation: a driver for antimicrobial resistance. J Hosp Infect 2017; 98:241-242. [PMID: 29175076 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2017.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2017] [Accepted: 11/16/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N Mahida
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.
| | - T Boswell
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
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17
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18
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Mahida N, Clarke M, White G, Vaughan N, Boswell T. Outbreak of Enterobacter cloacae with New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase (NDM)-1: challenges in epidemiological investigation and environmental decontamination. J Hosp Infect 2017; 97:64-65. [PMID: 28552405 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2017.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N Mahida
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.
| | - M Clarke
- Infection Prevention and Control Department, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - G White
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - N Vaughan
- Infection Prevention and Control Department, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - T Boswell
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
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19
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Gray J, Oppenheim B, Mahida N. The Journal of Hospital Infection in 2017: looking back and looking forward. J Hosp Infect 2017; 95:1-2. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2016.12.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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20
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Mahida N, Boswell T. Non-slip socks: a potential reservoir for transmitting multidrug-resistant organisms in hospitals? J Hosp Infect 2016; 94:273-275. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2016.06.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Accepted: 06/16/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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21
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Joseph A, Mahida N. Antimicrobial stewardship in secondary care: what are we trying to achieve? J Hosp Infect 2016; 93:392-4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2016.06.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Accepted: 06/03/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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22
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Baxter M, Islam G, Parsons H, Enoch D, Fry C, Kiernan M, Mahida N. A new infection trainee education programme from the Healthcare Infection Society. J Hosp Infect 2016; 93:157-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2016.02.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Accepted: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Beal A, Mahida N, Staniforth K, Vaughan N, Clarke M, Boswell T. First UK trial of Xenex PX-UV, an automated ultraviolet room decontamination device in a clinical haematology and bone marrow transplantation unit. J Hosp Infect 2016; 93:164-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2016.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 03/17/2016] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Affiliation(s)
- N Mahida
- Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.
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25
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Gray J, Mahida N. How do you solve a problem like multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria? J Hosp Infect 2016; 92:1-2. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2015.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2015] [Accepted: 11/06/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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26
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Mahida N. The white coat, microbiology service centralization, and combined infection training: what is happening to infection prevention and control? J Hosp Infect 2015; 91:289-91. [PMID: 26520591 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2015.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2015] [Accepted: 09/16/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- N Mahida
- Nottingham University Hospitals, Clinical Microbiology, Nottingham, UK.
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27
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Mahida N, Levi K, Kearns A, Snape S, Moppett I. Investigating the impact of clinical anaesthetic practice on bacterial contamination of intravenous fluids and drugs. J Hosp Infect 2015; 90:70-4. [PMID: 25648939 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2014.11.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2014] [Accepted: 11/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Syringes (N = 426), ventilator machine swabs (N = 202) and intravenous (IV) fluid administration sets (N = 47) from 101 surgical cases were evaluated for bacterial contamination. Cultures from the external surface of syringe tips and syringe contents were positive in 46% and 15% of cases, respectively. The same bacterial species was cultured from both ventilator and syringe in 13% of cases, and was also detected in the IV fluid administration set in two cases. A significant association was found between emergency cases and contaminated syringes (odds ratio 4.5, 95% confidence interval 1.37-14.8; P = 0.01). Other risk factors included not using gloves and failure to cap syringes.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Mahida
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.
| | - K Levi
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - A Kearns
- Antimicrobial Resistance and Healthcare Associated Infection Reference Unit, Public Health England, London, UK
| | - S Snape
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - I Moppett
- Anaesthesia and Critical Care, Division of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, UK
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Mahida N, Beal A, Trigg D, Vaughan N, Boswell T. Outbreak of invasive group A streptococcus infection: contaminated patient curtains and cross-infection on an ear, nose and throat ward. J Hosp Infect 2014; 87:141-4. [PMID: 24928787 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2014.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2014] [Accepted: 04/17/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Outbreaks of group A streptococcus (GAS) infections may occur in healthcare settings and have been documented in surgical, obstetrics and gynaecology, and burns units. The environment may serve as a reservoir and facilitate transmission via contaminated equipment. AIM To describe the investigation and control of an outbreak of healthcare-associated GAS infection on an ear, nose and throat (ENT) ward in a tertiary referral centre. METHODS Two patients with laryngeal cancer developed invasive GAS infection (bacteraemia) with associated tracheostomy wound cellulitis within a 48 h period. The outbreak team undertook an investigation involving a retrospective review of GAS cases, prospective case finding, healthcare worker screening and sampling of patient curtains. Immediate control measures included source isolation, a thorough rolling clean with a chlorine-based disinfectant and hydrogen peroxide decontamination of patient equipment. FINDINGS Prospective patient screening identified one additional patient with carriage of GAS from a tracheostomy wound swab. Staff screening identified one healthcare worker who acquired GAS during the outbreak and who subsequently developed pharyngitis. Environmental sampling demonstrated that 10 out of 34 patient curtains on the ward were contaminated with GAS and all isolates were typed as emm-1. CONCLUSION This is the first outbreak report to demonstrate patient curtains as potential source for GAS cross-transmission, with implications in relation to hand hygiene and frequency of laundering. Based on this report we recommend that during an outbreak of GAS infection all patient curtains should be changed as part of the enhanced decontamination procedures.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Mahida
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - A Beal
- Infection Prevention and Control Department, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - D Trigg
- Infection Prevention and Control Department, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - N Vaughan
- Infection Prevention and Control Department, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
| | - T Boswell
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK.
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29
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Mahida N, Vaughan N, Boswell T. First UK evaluation of an automated ultraviolet-C room decontamination device (Tru-D™). J Hosp Infect 2013; 84:332-5. [PMID: 23846236 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2013.05.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2013] [Accepted: 05/13/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Tru-D™ is an automated room disinfection device that uses ultraviolet-C radiation to kill micro-organisms. The device was deployed in six side-rooms and an operating theatre. In a cleaned, unoccupied operating theatre, Tru-D eradicated all organisms from the environment. Using artificially seeded Petri dishes with meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, multi-resistant acinetobacter and vancomycin-resistant enterococci, the mean log10 reductions were between three and four when used at 22,000μWs/cm(2) reflected dose. The device was easy to transport and utilize, and able to disinfect rooms rapidly. This appears to be a practical alternative technology to other 'no-touch' automated room disinfection systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Mahida
- Department of Clinical Microbiology, Nottingham University Hospitals NHS Trust, Nottingham, UK
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