Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-2brh9 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-25T18:42:43.841Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Enterobacter Sepsis in Infants and Children Due to Contaminated Intravenous Fluids

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Nikos S. Matsaniotis ,
Vassiliki Ph. Syriopoulou ,
Maria Ch. Theodoridou ,
Konstantina G. Tzanetou  and
Glyceria I. Mostrou
Nikos S. Matsaniotis*
Affiliation:
A' Department of Pediatrics, Athens University “Aghia Sophia” Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
Vassiliki Ph. Syriopoulou
Affiliation:
A' Department of Pediatrics, Athens University “Aghia Sophia” Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
Maria Ch. Theodoridou
Affiliation:
A' Department of Pediatrics, Athens University “Aghia Sophia” Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
Konstantina G. Tzanetou
Affiliation:
A' Department of Pediatrics, Athens University “Aghia Sophia” Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
Glyceria I. Mostrou
Affiliation:
A' Department of Pediatrics, Athens University “Aghia Sophia” Children's Hospital, Athens, Greece
*
Athens University, “Aghia Sophia” Children's Hospital, Athens, 115, 27, Greece
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Sixty-three cases of nosocomial sepsis occurring from April through October 1981, in a 500-bed pediatric hospital, were traced to bacterial contamination of intravenous fluid produced by a single manufacturer. Two species of uncommon blood stream pathogens, Enterobacter cloacae and Enterobacter agglomerans contaminated the fluid. Infections with these organisms might have contributed to the death of four patients; two who were immunosuppressed, one who was asplenic and one premature infant. Epidemiologic and laboratory investigations identified the site of contamination to be within the screw-caps of the bottles containing the intravenous fluid. Contamination occurred during insertion of the intravenous fluid administration set into the bottle. The “epidemic” terminated when the hospital discontinued the use of infusion fluids from that manufacturer. We conclude that intravenous fluids should be examined during outbreaks of nosocomial bacteremia due to unusual pathogens.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 5 , Issue 10 , October 1984 , pp. 471 - 477
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1984

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

1.Michaels, L, Ruebner, B: Growth of bacteria in intravenous infusic fluid. Lancet 1953;1:772.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
2.Felts, SK, Schaffner, W, Melly, MAet al: Sepsis caused by contaminated intravenous fluids. Epidemiologic, clinical and laboratory investigation of an outbreak in one hospital. Ann Intern Med 1972;77:881.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
3.Maki, DG, Rhame, FS, Mackel, DCet al: Nationwide epidemic of septicemia caused by contaminated intravenous products. I. Epidemiologic and clinical features. Am J Med 1976;60:471.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Phillips, I, Eykyn, S, Laker, M: Outbreak of hospital infection caused by contaminated autoclaved fluids. Lancet 1972;1:1258.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Meers, PD, Calder, MW, Mazhar, MMet al: Intravenous infusion of contaminated dextrose solution. The Devonport incident. Lancet 1973;2:1189.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
6.Centers for Disease Control: Septicemia associated with contaminated intravenous fluids. MMWR 1973;22:99, 115, 124.Google Scholar
7.McCabe, WR, Jackson, GG: Gram-negative bacteremia. I. Etiology and ecology. Arch Intern Med 1962;110:847.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8.Goldmann, DA, Maki, DG, Bennett, JV: Intravenous infusion-associated infections, in Bennett, JV, Brachman, PS (eds): Hospital Infections. Boston, Little Brown & Co, 1979, p 443.Google Scholar
9.Centers for Disease Control: Methods of prevention and control of nosocomial infections. A. Guideline for changing administration sets for intravenous fluid therapy. 1981 NNIS Annual Summary 1978, p 28.Google Scholar
10.Maki, DG: Epidemic nosocomial bacteremias, in Wenzel, RP (ed): Handbook of Hospital Acquired Infections. Boca Raton, CRC Press, 1981, p 371.Google Scholar
11.Goldmann, DA, Maki, DG, Rhame, FSet al: Guidelines for infection control in intravenous therapy. Ann Intern Med 1973;79:848.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Maki, DG, Martin, WT: Nationwide epidemic of septicemia caused by contaminated infusion products. IV. Growth of microbial pathogens in fluids for intravenous infusion. J Infect Dis 1975;131:267.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
13.Edwards, KE, Allen, JR, Miller, MJet al: Enterobacter aerogenes primary bacteremia in pediatric patients. Pediatrics 1978;62:304.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed