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Outbreak of Nocardia farcinica infection with the same pattern in randomly amplified polymorphic DNA analysis

S Kachi1, M Okazaki, H Takeda

  • 1First Department of Internal Medicine, Kyorin University School of Medicine, 6-20-2 Shinkawa, Mitaka-shi, Tokyo 181-8611, Japan. shusei-kachi@h8.dion.ne.jp

The Journal of Hospital Infection
|February 18, 2006
PubMed

Insights

Three patients contracted nocardiosis from Nocardia farcinica in one ward over six months. Genetic analysis confirmed a single strain, indicating a potential hospital-acquired infection outbreak.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Genetics

Background:

  • Nocardiosis is an opportunistic infection caused by Nocardia species.
  • Nocardia farcinica is an increasingly recognized pathogen, particularly in immunocompromised individuals.
  • Understanding the transmission dynamics of Nocardia infections is crucial for infection control.

Observation:

  • Three distinct cases of nocardiosis were identified within the same hospital ward over a six-month interval.
  • All cases were attributed to Nocardia farcinica.
  • Epidemiological and microbiological data were collected for each case.

Findings:

  • Randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis revealed identical genetic patterns among the Nocardia farcinica isolates from the three patients.
  • This genetic homogeneity strongly suggests a common source of infection.
  • The temporal and spatial clustering of cases points towards a localized transmission event.

Implications:

  • The findings strongly suggest a nosocomial (hospital-acquired) transmission of Nocardia farcinica within the ward.
  • This highlights the importance of vigilant surveillance and infection control measures for Nocardia species in healthcare settings.
  • Further investigation into the source and mode of transmission is warranted to prevent future occurrences.

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