Scholarlink

Background <p>Healthcare-associated infection outbreaks are frequently linked to environmental reservoirs, particularly contaminated water sources. Preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) represent a high-risk population for such outbreaks.</p> Methods <p>Through weekly rectal swab surveillance cultures in the NICU, we detected and contained a <i>Stenotrophomonas maltophilia</i> outbreak. Environmental sampling was performed to identify potential sources.</p> Results <p><i>S. maltophilia</i> was isolated from 6 of 15 neonates during routine surveillance, representing an outbreak of colonization without invasive infection. Environmental cultures revealed contamination in the carboy water system (carboy water, carboy pump, and carboy tubes). Repetitive extragenic palindromic sequence analysis demonstrated clonal relatedness between environmental and clinical isolates, though not complete genetic identity (100%).</p> Conclusion <p>This outbreak highlights carboy water systems as a previously unreported source of <i>S. maltophilia</i> colonization in NICUs. The observed high genetic diversity among isolates was potentially driven by antibiotic selection pressure and differential distribution of gene expression. Our findings emphasize the critical role of routine surveillance cultures for early outbreak detection. During outbreaks, comprehensive environmental sampling, molecular surveillance beyond serotyping, and robust infection control measures are essential for successfully outbreak management.</p>

错误：搜索内容不能为空，请输入英文关键词
错误：关键词超出字数限制，请精简
高级检索

Experience of an environmental-associated Stenotrophomonas maltophilia colonization outbreak: genetic diversity and outbreak management

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

    开放获取

  • 发表日期：

    2026年1月16日

查看全文
  • Serkan Atıcı,
  • Aslı Çınar Memişoğlu,
  • Burak Aksu,
  • Hülya Selva Bilgen,
  • Eren Özek,
  • Ahmet Soysal

摘要

Background

Healthcare-associated infection outbreaks are frequently linked to environmental reservoirs, particularly contaminated water sources. Preterm infants in neonatal intensive care units (NICUs) represent a high-risk population for such outbreaks.

Methods

Through weekly rectal swab surveillance cultures in the NICU, we detected and contained a Stenotrophomonas maltophilia outbreak. Environmental sampling was performed to identify potential sources.

Results

S. maltophilia was isolated from 6 of 15 neonates during routine surveillance, representing an outbreak of colonization without invasive infection. Environmental cultures revealed contamination in the carboy water system (carboy water, carboy pump, and carboy tubes). Repetitive extragenic palindromic sequence analysis demonstrated clonal relatedness between environmental and clinical isolates, though not complete genetic identity (100%).

Conclusion

This outbreak highlights carboy water systems as a previously unreported source of S. maltophilia colonization in NICUs. The observed high genetic diversity among isolates was potentially driven by antibiotic selection pressure and differential distribution of gene expression. Our findings emphasize the critical role of routine surveillance cultures for early outbreak detection. During outbreaks, comprehensive environmental sampling, molecular surveillance beyond serotyping, and robust infection control measures are essential for successfully outbreak management.