Outbreak of healthcare-associated bacteremia caused by Burkholderia gladioli due to contaminated multidose vials with saline solutions in three Croatian hospitals.

OBJECTIVES: Burkholderia gladioli has been associated with infections in patients with cystic fibrosis, chronic granulomatous disease, and other immunocompromising conditions. The aim of this study was to better depict the outbreak of healthcare-associated bacteremia caused by B. gladioli due to exposure to contaminated multidose vials with saline solutions. METHODS: An environmental and epidemiologic investigation was conducted by the Infection Prevention and Control Team (IPCT) to identify the source of the outbreak in three Croatian hospitals. RESULTS: During a 3-month period, 13 B. gladioli bacteremia episodes were identified in 10 patients in three Croatian hospitals. At the time of the outbreak, all three hospitals used saline products from the same manufacturer. Two 100-ml multidose vials with saline solutions and needleless dispensing pins were positive for B. gladioli. All 13 bacteremia isolates and two isolates from the saline showed the same antimicrobial susceptibility patterns and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis profile, demonstrating clonal relatedness. CONCLUSION: When an environmental pathogen causes an outbreak, contamination of intravenous products must be considered. Close communication between the local IPCT and the National Hospital Infection Control Advisory Committee is essential to conduct a prompt and thorough investigation and find the source of the outbreak.

blaNDM-1 Carriage on IncR Plasmid in Enterobacteriaceae Strains.

Four NDM-1-producing Enterobacteriaceae strains (three Klebsiella pneumoniae and one Citrobacter koseri) were isolated between 2009 and 2011 through a nationwide surveillance for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae in Croatia to study the molecular genetic background of blaNDM and the responsible plasmid types. Phenotypically, the clinical strains proved to be multidrug resistant. All strains remained susceptible to tigecycline and colistin. The clinical strains harbored variable antibiotic resistance determinants, notably, blaNDM-1, blaTEM-1, blaSHV-1, blaSHV-12, blaOXA-1, blaOXA-9, blaCTX-M-15, blaCMY-4, qnrB1, and aac(6')Ib-cr in different combinations. Two K. pneumoniae belonged to sequence type ST15 and one strain to ST16. As for the plasmid types, C. koseri and one of the ST15 K. pneumoniae carried IncR, and the second ST15 K. pneumoniae carried IncR and colE. The K. pneumoniae ST16 strain hosted A/C and colE plasmids. The blaNDM-1 gene was detected on conjugative high-molecular-weight plasmids, namely, A/C and IncR types. It is noteworthy that this is the first description of K. pneumoniae ST16 expressing NDM-1 in Europe. Remarkably, our study underscores the importance of the IncR plasmid as a reservoir of multidrug resistance. To the best of our knowledge, the IncR plasmid carrying blaNDM-1 in C. koseri is reported for the first time.

[The use of peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) in patients with hematological malignancies--a single center experience]. / Upotreba periferno uvedenoga centralnog venskog katetera (picc) u bolesnika sa zlocudnim hematoloskim bolestima--prikaz vlastitih iskustava.

UNLABELLED: AIM. In this study we presented our experience with peripherally inserted central venous catheter (PICC) in patients with hematological malignancies. METHODS: In the period from 2009 to 2012, a total of 105 PICCs were inserted in 90 patients. Patients with Non-Hodgkin lymphoma treated with DA-EPOCH comprised almost 40% of the cohort. RESULTS: The total PICC in-dwell time was 14781 days with a median of 129 days (range 8-570 days). Malposition of the PICC occurred in 12 patients (11.4%) with a successful reposition or re-insertion. In 39 patients (37%) PICC was removed before the end of treatment due to suspected or proven infection (30 patients, 29%; 2.03 per 1000 PICC days), thrombosis associated with PICC in four patients (3.8%), occlusion of the PICC (two patients), misplaced catheter (two patients), and suspected thromboembolism in a single patient. CONCLUSION: PICC is a safe and convenient long-term venous access in patients with hematological malignancies.

A fatal Mycobacterium chelonae infection in an immunosuppressed patient with systemic lupus erythematosus and concomitant Fahr's syndrome.

We present a case of systemic Mycobacterium chelonae infection in an immunosuppressed patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), idiopathic hypoparathyroidism, and hypothyroidism. The patient was treated for 3 months for skin infection with clarithromycin monotherapy. Since her condition deteriorated, the antibiotic therapy was switched to intravenously administered clindamycin, cloxacillin, and meropenem. Due to further deterioration and isolation of M. chelonae from the blood culture, antimicrobial therapy was changed to azithromycin and amikacin. Drug-test sensitivity was performed, and the isolate was susceptible to clarithromycin only. The patient's deteriorating status prevented orally administered medication with clarithromycin (parenteral formulation is not registered in Croatia). The same antibiotic regime was continued until the isolation of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Candida albicans. In addition, extensive calcifications in her brain were found on a computed tomography (CT) scan, which suggested Fahr's syndrome. Despite all measures and supportive care, the patient developed multiorgan failure and eventually died. There has been an increase in the number of infections by rapidly growing mycobacteria, but only a few cases of severe systemic infection with M. chelonae have been described. If the infection is diagnosed early and a patient is treated with appropriate drugs, dissemination can be avoided despite immunosuppression. For serious skin, bone, and soft-tissue disease, a minimum of 4 months of a combined drug therapy is necessary. This is the first report of M. chelonae infection in Croatia and the first-described M. chelonae infection in a patient with concomitant Fahr's syndrome.