Background Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is a life-threatening respiratory condition caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and was initially detected in China in December 2019. Currently, in Germany over 140,000 cases of COVID-19 are confirmed. Here we report a nosocomial outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 infections in the pediatric dialysis unit of the University Hospital of Münster (UHM). Methods Single-step real-time RT-PCR from nasopharyngeal swaps was used to diagnose the index patient and identify infected contacts. Epidemiological links were analyzed by patient interviews and chart reviews. In addition, each contact was assessed for exposure to the index case and monitored for clinical symptoms. Threshold cycle (Ct) values of all positive test results were compared between symptomatic and asymptomatic cases. Results Forty-eight cases were involved in this nosocomial outbreak. Nine contact cases developed laboratory confirmed COVID-19 infections. Two SARS-CoV-2 positive cases remained clinically asymptomatic. Eleven cases reported flu-like symptoms without positive results. Ct values were significantly lower in cases presenting typical COVID-19 symptoms, suggesting high viral shedding (p =0.007). Conclusion Person-to-person transmission was at the heart of a hospital outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 between healthcare workers (HCWs) and patients in the pediatric dialysis unit at the UHM. Semi quantitative real-time RT-PCR results suggest that individuals with high viral load pose a risk to spread SARS-CoV-2 in the hospital setting. Our epidemiological observation highlights the need to develop strategies to trace and monitor SARS-CoV-2 infected HCWs in order to prevent COVID-19 outbreaks in the hospital setting.
Background Currently, hospitals have been forced to divert substantial resources to cope with the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. It is unclear if this situation will affect long-standing infection prevention practices and impact on healthcare associated infections. Here, we report a nosocomial cluster of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) that occurred on a COVID-19 dedicated intensive care unit (ICU) despite intensified contact precautions during the current pandemic. Whole genome sequence-based typing (WGS) was used to investigate genetic relatedness of VRE isolates collected from COVID-19 and non-COVID-19 patients during the outbreak and to compare them to environmental VRE samples. Methods Five VRE isolated from patients (three clinical and two screening samples) as well as 11 VRE and six vancomycin susceptible Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) samples from environmental sites underwent WGS during the outbreak investigation. Isolate relatedness was determined using core genome multilocus sequence typing (cgMLST). Results WGS revealed two genotypic distinct VRE clusters with genetically closely related patient and environmental isolates. The cluster was terminated by enhanced infection control bundle strategies. Conclusions Our results illustrate the importance of continued adherence to infection prevention and control measures during the COVID-19 pandemic to prevent VRE transmission and healthcare associated infections.
Introduction: Antibiotic resistant bacteria are a growing concern worldwide. Extended-spectrum β-lactamases (ESBL) represent the most common resistance mechanism of Gram-negative bacteria against β-lactams, underlining the need for adequate diagnostic methods that provide reliable information in the shortest time possible. AmpC, a less prevalent but increasingly relevant class of β-lactamases, pose an additional challenge as their detection is complex. Here, we present an ESBL and AmpC screening panel employing the MALDI-TOF MS-based direct-on-target microdroplet growth assay (DOT-MGA).Materials and Methods: Four reference strains recommended by the European Committee on Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (EUCAST) were used to develop the panel, which was further validated on 50 clinical Enterobacterales isolates resistant to third generation cephalosporins. The panel relies on the synergistic effect between ESBL and/or AmpC β-lactamase inhibitors and cephalosporins, which indicates β-lactamase production. Microdroplets containing the tested microorganism, cephalosporins in different concentrations and inhibitors were pipetted onto an MBT Biotarget and incubated for 3 or 4 h at 35 ± 1°C. Afterward, the liquid medium was removed and the material adhered to the spots was analyzed by MALDI-TOF MS. Synergy was detected by determining and comparing the minimum inhibitory concentrations of the tested cephalosporins with and without β-lactamase inhibitors. Data were interpreted following a diagnostic algorithm proposed by EUCAST in order to establish a final diagnosis. In comparison, PCR, broth microdilution (BMD) and combination disk tests (CDT) were performed.Results: Compared to the PCR results, the following positive and negative percent agreement values (PPA/NPA) were obtained for each resistance mechanism: ESBL, 94.44/100%; AmpC, 94.44/93.75% and ESBL+AmpC, 100/100%. These results, obtained after 4 h of incubation, were comparable with those of BMD and showed a higher accuracy than CDT.Discussion: We propose a novel phenotypic method for detection of ESBL and AmpC β-lactamases in Enterobacterales that provides reliable results in a short time, representing a promising alternative to the diagnostic techniques currently available. This easy-to-perform approach has potential for being implemented in routine laboratories, contributing to the further diversification of mass spectrometry technology into other fields such as antibiotic resistance testing.
Objectives: Travellers may be colonized with antimicrobial-resistant bacteria on return, but little is known about colonization during travel. Our objectives were to assess the acquisition and colonization dynamics during the stay abroad for a broad range of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and resistance phenotypes and to identify risk factors for faecal carriage of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. Methods: German and Dutch participants (n ¼ 132) of this prospective cohort study (2016e2018) completed a questionnaire on risk factors and provided daily stool samples before, during, and after travel. Samples were screened for extended-spectrum b-lactamase producing Enterobacterales (ESBL-E), carbapenem-resistant (CarbR-GN), and non-intrinsically colistin-resistant Gram-negative rods (ColR-GN), vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium/faecalis (VRE), and Clostridioides difficile. Results: Colonization rates reached a plateau within a week after departure fluctuating around 48.5% (63/ 130) and 58.4% (45/77, ESBL-E), 10.4% (11/106) and 23.4% (18/77, ColR-GN), or 3.0% (4/132) and 6.8% (8/ 118, CarbR-GN). Colonization rates after the travel were 46.2% (61/132, ESBL-E), 9.0% (12/132, ColR-GN), and 3.4% (5/132, CarbR-GN). Travellers carried mcr-1-(15/132; 11.4%) or bla NDM -positive (4/132; 3.0%) Enterobacterales. A vegetarian diet was associated with a lower risk for the acquisition of ESBL-E (OR ¼ 0.4, p 0.04) and ColR-GN (OR ¼ 0.1, p 0.01) during travel in a multivariable model. Similarly, travellers visiting friends and relatives had a lower risk for the acquisition of ESBL-E (OR ¼ 0.3, p 0.009) and CarbR-GN (OR ¼ 0.3, p 0.01). VRE and C. difficile were not detected. Conclusion:The number of travellers with a temporary colonization during the journey exceeded the number of travellers still colonized after return.
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