Outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Providencia rettgeri in a tertiary hospital

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

doi:10.7196/SAMJ.2017.v107i1.12002

South African Medical Journal (Jan 2017)

Outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Providencia rettgeri in a tertiary hospital

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

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

DOI: https://doi.org/10.7196/SAMJ.2017.v107i1.12002
Journal volume & issue: Vol. 107, no. 1
pp. 31 – 33

Abstract

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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.

Published in South African Medical Journal

ISSN: 0256-9574 (Print); 2078-5135 (Online)
Publisher: South African Medical Association
Country of publisher: South Africa
LCC subjects: Medicine: Medicine (General)
Website: https://samajournals.co.za/index.php/samj/index

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