In Practice

Outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Providencia rettgeri in a tertiary hospital

V S Tshisevhe, M R Lekalakala, N Tshuma, S Janse van Rensburg, N Mbelle

Abstract


The emergence of resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents in pathogenic bacteria is a significant public health threat, as there are limited effective antimicrobial agents for infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Several MDR bacteria are now frequently detected. Carbapenem resistance in Enterobacteriaceae is often plasmid mediated, necessitating stringent infection control practices. We
describe an outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Providencia rettgeri involving 4 patients admitted to intensive care and high-care units at a tertiary hospital. Clinical and demographic characteristics of 4 patients with carbapenem-resistant P. rettgeri were documented. All P. rettgeri isolated in these cases had a carbapenem-resistant antibiogram, with resistance to imipenem, ertapenem and meropenem. These cases could be epidemiologically linked. A multiprong approach, simultaneously targeting antibiotic stewardship, universal precautions and appropriate transmission-based precaution practices, is integral to prevention and control of nosocomial infections.


Authors' affiliations

V S Tshisevhe, Department of Medical Microbiology, Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Service, Pretoria; and Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa

M R Lekalakala, Department of Medical Microbiology, Polokwane National Health Laboratory Service, and Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Limpopo, Polokwane, South Africa

N Tshuma, Community AIDS Response, Johannesburg, South Africa

S Janse van Rensburg, Department of Medical Microbiology, Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Service, Pretoria, South Africa

N Mbelle, Department of Medical Microbiology, Tshwane Academic Division, National Health Laboratory Service, Pretoria; and Department of Medical Microbiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Pretoria, South Africa

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Keywords

Carbapenem-resistant Providencia rettgeri; Outbreak; Tertiary hospital

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2017;107(1):31-33. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2017.v107i1.12002

Article History

Date submitted: 2016-12-21
Date published: 2016-12-21

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