Outbreak of invasive group A streptococcus infection: contaminated patient curtains and cross-infection on an ear, nose and throat ward
- PMID: 24928787
- DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2014.04.007
Outbreak of invasive group A streptococcus infection: contaminated patient curtains and cross-infection on an ear, nose and throat ward
Abstract
Background: Outbreaks of group A streptococcus (GAS) infections may occur in healthcare settings and have been documented in surgical, obstetrics and gynaecology, and burns units. The environment may serve as a reservoir and facilitate transmission via contaminated equipment.
Aim: To describe the investigation and control of an outbreak of healthcare-associated GAS infection on an ear, nose and throat (ENT) ward in a tertiary referral centre.
Methods: Two patients with laryngeal cancer developed invasive GAS infection (bacteraemia) with associated tracheostomy wound cellulitis within a 48 h period. The outbreak team undertook an investigation involving a retrospective review of GAS cases, prospective case finding, healthcare worker screening and sampling of patient curtains. Immediate control measures included source isolation, a thorough rolling clean with a chlorine-based disinfectant and hydrogen peroxide decontamination of patient equipment.
Findings: Prospective patient screening identified one additional patient with carriage of GAS from a tracheostomy wound swab. Staff screening identified one healthcare worker who acquired GAS during the outbreak and who subsequently developed pharyngitis. Environmental sampling demonstrated that 10 out of 34 patient curtains on the ward were contaminated with GAS and all isolates were typed as emm-1.
Conclusion: This is the first outbreak report to demonstrate patient curtains as potential source for GAS cross-transmission, with implications in relation to hand hygiene and frequency of laundering. Based on this report we recommend that during an outbreak of GAS infection all patient curtains should be changed as part of the enhanced decontamination procedures.
Keywords: Group A streptococcus; Healthcare-acquired infection; Infection control; Outbreak.
Copyright © 2014 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Comment in
-
Preventing group A streptococcus cross-infection on ear, nose and throat wards.J Hosp Infect. 2014 Nov;88(3):180. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2014.08.004. Epub 2014 Aug 28. J Hosp Infect. 2014. PMID: 25228228 No abstract available.
Similar articles
-
Outbreak of invasive group A streptococcus: investigations using agar settle plates detect perineal shedding from a healthcare worker.J Hosp Infect. 2018 Dec;100(4):e209-e215. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2018.03.029. Epub 2018 Mar 29. J Hosp Infect. 2018. PMID: 29605189
-
Role of occupational health staff in investigation of invasive group A streptococcal infection hospital outbreak.J Hosp Infect. 2012 Jul;81(3):199-201. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2012.04.016. Epub 2012 May 23. J Hosp Infect. 2012. PMID: 22633276
-
Real-time whole genome sequencing to control a Streptococcus pyogenes outbreak at a national orthopaedic hospital.J Hosp Infect. 2019 Sep;103(1):21-26. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2019.07.003. Epub 2019 Jul 5. J Hosp Infect. 2019. PMID: 31283948
-
Group A Streptococcus Toxic Shock Syndrome: An outbreak report and review of the literature.J Infect Public Health. 2012 Dec;5(6):388-93. doi: 10.1016/j.jiph.2012.07.006. Epub 2012 Nov 30. J Infect Public Health. 2012. PMID: 23287609 Review.
-
A cluster of central line-associated bloodstream infections due to rapidly growing nontuberculous mycobacteria in patients with hematologic disorders at a Japanese tertiary care center: an outbreak investigation and review of the literature.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2015 Jan;36(1):76-80. doi: 10.1017/ice.2014.14. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2015. PMID: 25627764 Review.
Cited by
-
Comparative performance of contact plate metod and swab method for surface microbial contamination on medical fabrics.BMC Infect Dis. 2024 May 27;24(1):530. doi: 10.1186/s12879-024-09416-8. BMC Infect Dis. 2024. PMID: 38802763 Free PMC article.
-
Outbreak of Streptococcus pyogenes emm89 ST646 in a head and neck surgical oncology ward.Microbiol Spectr. 2024 May 2;12(5):e0426023. doi: 10.1128/spectrum.04260-23. Epub 2024 Apr 8. Microbiol Spectr. 2024. PMID: 38587390 Free PMC article.
-
Comparative Analysis of Sampling Methods for Assessing Bacterial Contamination on Hospital Partition Curtains: Moistened Swabs versus RODAC Agar Plates.Med Sci Monit. 2023 Sep 23;29:e941086. doi: 10.12659/MSM.941086. Med Sci Monit. 2023. PMID: 37740479 Free PMC article.
-
Tannin-Based Microbicidal Coatings for Hospital Privacy Curtains.J Funct Biomater. 2023 Mar 27;14(4):187. doi: 10.3390/jfb14040187. J Funct Biomater. 2023. PMID: 37103276 Free PMC article.
-
Invasive Group A Streptococcus Outbreaks Associated with Home Healthcare, England, 2018-2019.Emerg Infect Dis. 2022 May;28(5):915-23. doi: 10.3201/eid2805.211497. Emerg Infect Dis. 2022. PMID: 35451366 Free PMC article. Review.
Publication types
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Medical
Research Materials
Miscellaneous