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Post-Transplant Events

Molecular epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in an SCT unit

Bone Marrow Transplantation volume 43, pages 335–338 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

From May to October 2006, six severe Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections were diagnosed in patients undergoing SCT in the SCT unit of the Careggi hospital (Florence, Italy). Four of the infected patients were treated consecutively in the same room (room N). On the hypothesis of a possible environmental source of infection, samples were collected from different sites that had potential for cross-contamination throughout the SCT unit, including the electrolytic chloroxidant disinfectant used for hand washing (Irgasan) and the disinfectant used for facilities cleaning. Four of the environmental samples were positive for P. aeruginosa: three Irgansan soap samples and a tap swab sample from the staff cleaning and dressing room. The AFLP (amplified fragment length polymorphism) typing method employed to evaluate strain clonality showed that the isolates from the patients who had shared the same room and an isolate from Irgasan soap had a significant molecular similarity (dice index higher than 0.93). After adequate control measures, no subsequent environmental sample proved positive for P. aeruginosa. These data strongly support the hypothesis of the clonal origin of the infective strains and suggest an environmental source of infection. The AFLP method was fast enough to allow a ‘real-time’ monitoring of the outbreak, permitting additional preventive measures.

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Mrs Cristina Indorato for technical assistance. This study was supported by a grant from Regione Toscana.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Haematology, Stem Cell Transplantation Unit, Careggi Hospital, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    R Fanci, B Bartolozzi, S Guidi & A Bosi

  2. CIBIACI and Department of Animal Biology and Genetics, University of Florence, Florence, Italy

    S Sergi, E Casalone, F Donnarumma, A G Leon & G Mastromei

  3. Laboratory of Microbiology, Careggi Hospital, Florence, Italy

    P Pecile, D Cecconi, R Mannino & P Nicoletti

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  1. R Fanci
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  2. B Bartolozzi
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  3. S Sergi
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  4. E Casalone
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  5. P Pecile
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  6. D Cecconi
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  7. R Mannino
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  9. A G Leon
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  10. S Guidi
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  13. A Bosi
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to R Fanci.

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Fanci, R., Bartolozzi, B., Sergi, S. et al. Molecular epidemiological investigation of an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection in an SCT unit. Bone Marrow Transplant 43, 335–338 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2008.319

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bmt.2008.319

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