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Clonality of Providencia stuartii isolates involved in outbreak that occurred in a burn unit

N Ben Saida1, L Thabet, A Messadi

  • 1Microbiology and Immunology Laboratory UR 16/02, CHU Farhat-Hached, avenue Ibn-Jazzar, Sousse, Tunisia.

Burns : Journal of the International Society for Burn Injuries
|February 5, 2008
PubMed

Insights

A multidrug-resistant Providencia stuartii outbreak in a burn unit was investigated. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) identified a common source, likely a contaminated aspirator, as the transmission route.

Area of Science:

  • Medical Microbiology
  • Infectious Disease Epidemiology

Background:

  • An outbreak of multidrug-resistant Providencia stuartii occurred in a hospital burn unit.
  • Providencia stuartii is a significant nosocomial pathogen, particularly in intensive care settings.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the source and transmission dynamics of a multidrug-resistant Providencia stuartii outbreak.
  • To determine the utility of pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) in understanding the epidemiology of Providencia stuartii.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of clinical and environmental isolates of Providencia stuartii using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE).
  • Collection of isolates from patients and a tracheal aspirator over a 4-month period.
  • Antimicrobial susceptibility testing to identify different antibiotypes.

Main Results:

  • Seventeen multidrug-resistant, extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Providencia stuartii isolates were identified from patients.
  • Three isolates from a tracheal aspirator (probe, reservoir, tube) were also identified.
  • Two PFGE types (A and B) were observed, with type A predominating (15 isolates) and found in environmental samples.
  • No correlation between antibiotypes and PFGE genotypes was found.

Conclusions:

  • The outbreak was likely bi-clonal, with a common source of transmission.
  • A contaminated tracheal aspirator, serving as a bacterial reservoir, is implicated as the source.
  • PFGE is a valuable tool for elucidating the epidemiological behavior of Providencia stuartii and informing control strategies.

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