Hospital outbreak of Burkholderia stabilis bacteraemia related to contaminated chlorhexidine in haematological malignancy patients with indwelling catheters

J Hosp Infect. 2008 Nov;70(3):241-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2008.07.019.

Abstract

Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) is an opportunistic pathogen that occasionally causes hospital outbreaks. This paper describes an outbreak of BCC bacteraemia in haematological malignancy patients related to a contaminated chlorhexidine gluconate solution. Eight BCC isolates were obtained from patients hospitalised in the same ward of a cancer centre in a Korean hospital. A further three BCC isolates were obtained from 0.5% chlorhexidine gluconate used in the same ward. The isolates were identified as B. stabilis and exhibited identical pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profiles. All patients with B. stabilis bacteraemia had indwelling intravenous catheters, which were treated with chlorhexidine to disinfect the catheters. Following identification of the source of contamination, strict controls regarding surveillance cultures for disinfectants have been enforced. No further B. stabilis infections have been found in the hospital.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Anti-Bacterial Agents / therapeutic use
  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local / adverse effects*
  • Bacteremia / drug therapy
  • Bacteremia / epidemiology*
  • Bacteremia / microbiology
  • Bacteremia / prevention & control
  • Burkholderia / isolation & purification
  • Burkholderia Infections / drug therapy
  • Burkholderia Infections / epidemiology*
  • Burkholderia Infections / microbiology
  • Burkholderia Infections / prevention & control
  • Catheters, Indwelling / microbiology
  • Child
  • Chlorhexidine / adverse effects
  • Chlorhexidine / analogs & derivatives*
  • Cross Infection / drug therapy
  • Cross Infection / epidemiology*
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Cross Infection / prevention & control
  • Disease Outbreaks
  • Drug Contamination*
  • Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field
  • Female
  • Hematologic Neoplasms / complications
  • Hospitals, Teaching
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / methods
  • Korea / epidemiology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Anti-Infective Agents, Local
  • chlorhexidine gluconate
  • Chlorhexidine