Outbreak of staphylococcal infection in two hospital nurseries traced to a single nasal carrier

In late January and early February 1983, an outbreak of skin infections (7 of 145 infants) caused by a penicillin/erythromycin resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus (SA), phage type 3A/3C, occurred in our newborn nursery. A week following the first cluster of infections, another nursery outbreak...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inInfection control : IC Vol. 7; no. 10; p. 487
Main Authors Belani, A, Sherertz, R J, Sullivan, M L, Russell, B A, Reumen, P D
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published United States 01.10.1986
Subjects
Cross Infection - microbiology
Cross Infection - transmission
Disease Outbreaks
Epidemiologic Methods
Female
Florida
Humans
Infant, Newborn
Male
Nurseries, Hospital
Nurses
Staphylococcal Infections - epidemiology
Staphylococcal Infections - transmission
Staphylococcus aureus - isolation & purification
Florida
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Summary:In late January and early February 1983, an outbreak of skin infections (7 of 145 infants) caused by a penicillin/erythromycin resistant strain of Staphylococcus aureus (SA), phage type 3A/3C, occurred in our newborn nursery. A week following the first cluster of infections, another nursery outbreak due to SA with the same antibiogram occurred in a nearby community hospital (11 of 114 infants). Subsequently, a second cluster of infections with the same SA was identified at our nursery. The epidemic strain was carried in the anterior nares of a single nurse who worked at both hospital nurseries on alternate weeks. Investigation revealed that the nurse had an upper respiratory tract infection during each of these outbreaks--simulating "a cloud baby." No further infections have occurred since this nurse was treated and her SA nasal carrier state eliminated.
ISSN:0195-9417
DOI:10.1017/S0195941700065097