Linked Life Data

16899327

Source:http://linkedlifedata.com/resource/pubmed/id/16899327

Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
2006-9-15
pubmed:abstractText
This paper describes an outbreak of postoperative sternal wound infections. A cardiac surgeon noted a cluster of serious infections leading to wound dehiscence, despite the fact that none of his colleagues had noticed a rise in infection rates. The infections were predominantly with Enterobacter cloacae, and molecular typing and serotyping showed these isolates to be indistinguishable. Observation of the surgeon's practice revealed nothing untoward, and there were no infections among his patients operated on in another hospital. There appeared to be no significant difference between the modes of operation of the different surgeons. The operating theatres were screened to exclude an environmental source, with samples cultured on CHROMagar Orientation, a selective/differential medium designed for urine samples. Further questioning revealed one difference between the practices of the different surgeons; this surgeon used semi-frozen Hartmann's solution to achieve cardioplegia. The freezer used for this was swabbed and yielded E. cloacae, indistinguishable from the clinical isolates. It is hypothesized that this organism contaminated the freezer, and that the contamination was passed on to the ice/slush solution, thus infecting the patients. There have been no more cases since the freezer was replaced, a rigorous cleaning schedule instituted, and steps taken to reduce the possibility of any further contamination.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Oct
pubmed:issn
0195-6701
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
64
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
124-8
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
2006
pubmed:articleTitle
An outbreak of wound infection in cardiac surgery patients caused by Enterobacter cloacae arising from cardioplegia ice.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Microbiology & Infection Control and Health Protection Agency Collaborating Centre, St George's Hospital, London, UK. abreathn@sgul.ac.uk
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article