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An Outbreak of Pyodermas Among Neonates Caused by Ultrasound Gel Contaminated With Methicillin-Susceptible Staphylococcus Aureus

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Klaus Weist ,
Constanze Wendt ,
Lyle R. Petersen ,
Hans Versmold  and
Henning Rüden
Klaus Weist*
Affiliation:
Institute of Hygiene, Free University of Berlin, Germany
Constanze Wendt
Affiliation:
Institute of Hygiene, Free University of Berlin, Germany
Lyle R. Petersen
Affiliation:
Robert Koch Institute, German Ministry of Health, Berlin, Germany
Hans Versmold
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital Benjamin Franklin, Free Universität Berlin, Germany
Henning Rüden
Affiliation:
Institute of Hygiene, Free University of Berlin, Germany
*
Institut für Hygiene, Freie Universität Berlin, Universitätsklinikum Benjamin Franklin, Hindenburgdamm 27, 12203 Berlin, Germany
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Abstract

Objective:

To investigate an outbreak of methicillin-susceptible Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA); infections in a neonatal clinic.

Design:

Prospective chart review, environmental sampling, and genotyping by two independent methods: pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA polymerase chain reaction (RAPD-PCR). A case-control study was performed with 31 controls from the same clinic.

Setting:

A German 1,350-bed tertiary-care teaching university hospital.

Results:

There was a significant increase in the incidence of pyodermas with MSSA 10 neonates in good physical condition with no infection immediately after birth developed pyodermas. A shared spatula and ultrasound gel were the only identified infection sources. The gel contained MSSA and was used for hip-joint sonographies in all neonates. PFGE and RAPD-PCR patterns from 6 neonates and from the gel were indistinguishable and thus genetically related clones. The case-control study revealed no significant risk factor with the exception of cesarean section (P=.006). The attack rate by days of hip-joint sonography between April 15 and April 27, 1994, was 11.8% to 40%.

Conclusions:

Inappropriate hygienic measures in connection with lubricants during routine ultrasound scanning may lead to nosocomial S aureus infections of the skin. To our knowledge this source of S aureus infections has not previously been described.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 21 , Issue 12 , December 2000 , pp. 761 - 764
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2000

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