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Enterobacter sakazakii Infections in Neonates Associated with Intrinsic Contamination of a Powdered Infant Formula

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

Bryan P. Simmons*
Affiliation:
Methodist Central Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
Michael S. Gelfand
Affiliation:
Methodist Central Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
Michael Haas
Affiliation:
Methodist Central Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
Linda Metts
Affiliation:
Methodist Central Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
John Ferguson
Affiliation:
Methodist Central Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
*
188 S. Bellevue, Suite 420, Memphis, TN 38104

Abstract

We report an outbreak of Enterobacter sakazakii infection and colonization in neonates related to an infant formula contaminated during the manufacturing process. The outbreak occurred in a 2O-bed neonatal intensive care unit during a six-week period in 1988, and involved a total of four infants. Three infants had sepsis and three had bloody diarrhea; all patients responded to intravenous antibiotics and recovered without complications. The E sakazakii isolated from the formula had the same plasmid and multilocus enzyme profile as those isolated from patients. This outbreak demonstrates the significance of commercially contaminated formulas and emphasizes the need to limit contamination and multiplication of bacteria in enteral formulas.

Type
Original Articles
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1989

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