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Nosocomial Transmission of Serratia odorifera Biogroup 2: Case Report Demonstration by Macrorestriction Analysis of Chromosomal DNA Using Pulsed-Field Gel Electrophoresis

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Helio S. Sader ,
Trish M. Perl ,
Richard J. Hollis ,
Donna Divishek ,
Loreen A. Herwaldt  and
Ronald N. Jones
Helio S. Sader*
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Trish M. Perl
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Richard J. Hollis
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
Donna Divishek
Affiliation:
Department of Hospital Epidemiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Loreen A. Herwaldt
Affiliation:
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa Department of Hospital Epidemiology, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics, Iowa City, Iowa
Ronald N. Jones
Affiliation:
Department of Pathology, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa
*
University of Iowa College of Medicine, Pathology Department, 273 MRC, Iowa City, LA 52242
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Abstract

Objectives:

To investigate a cluster of Serratia odorifera in a cardiothoracic surgery unit (CTSU) and to evaluate the applicability of three typing methods for this species.

Design:

During a surveillance surgical wound study, S odorifera was isolated from two patients in the CTSU. The patients' hospital charts were reviewed for the details of surgery and for common personnel, procedures, or medications. Cultures were obtained of water, soap, and unit dose medications from the CTSU, the operating room, and the surgical intensive care unit. The isolates' antibiograms, biotypes (Vitek identification card and API 20E), and patterns of chromosomal DNA (chrDNA) by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) were examined. S odorifera isolates from our organism collection were used as controls.

Setting:

A 900-bed university hospital with a 22-bed CISU.

Results:

ChrDNA patterns of isolates from the two patients were identical, suggesting a possible nosocomial source. However, no source of organisms or mode of transmission was identified. Neither biotype nor antibiogram were useful for epidemiologically typing S odorifera, and PFGE was necessary to discriminate among isolates.

Conclusions:

Although rarely isolated, S odorifera and other non- marcescens Serratia species may cause nosocomial outbreaks. PFGE of chrDNA seems to be a reliable method for epidemiologically typing this species.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 15 , Issue 6 , June 1994 , pp. 390 - 393
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1994

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