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Burkholderia cepacia complex outbreak originating from contaminated wash gloves

Elia Lo Priore1, Stefano Bernasconi2, Hervè Schlotterbeck3

  • 1Division of Hospital Epidemiology, Ente Ospedaliero Cantonale, Bellinzona, Switzerland.

Infection Prevention in Practice
|August 9, 2021
PubMed

Insights

Burkholderia cepacia complex caused an outbreak in a heart center. Genomic analysis revealed disinfectant-free wash gloves as the likely source, with contamination originating from the manufacturing site.

Area of Science:

  • Infectious Diseases
  • Genomics
  • Healthcare Epidemiology

Background:

  • The Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) is an opportunistic pathogen.
  • BCC outbreaks in healthcare settings pose significant risks, particularly to vulnerable patient populations.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate an outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia complex isolates in a cardiac center.
  • To identify the source and transmission route of the BCC outbreak.

Main Methods:

  • Whole genome sequencing of patient isolates and environmental samples.
  • Epidemiological investigation of patient admissions and product usage.

Main Results:

  • Four patients were identified with BCC infections between April and June 2019.
  • Genomic sequencing confirmed BCC in patient samples and identified two identical patient isolates.
  • Isolates from disinfectant-free wash gloves were genomically identical to patient isolates, indicating the gloves as the outbreak source.
  • Contamination was likely introduced during the manufacturing process of the wash gloves.

Conclusions:

  • Disinfectant-free wash gloves were identified as the source of a Burkholderia cepacia complex outbreak.
  • The contamination likely occurred during product manufacturing, highlighting the importance of supply chain vigilance.
  • Effective infection control measures are crucial to prevent BCC transmission in healthcare facilities.

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