Outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Providencia rettgeri in a tertiary hospital

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Authors

Tshisevhe, V.S.
Lekalakala, M.R.
Tshuma, N.
Janse van Rensburg, S.
Mbelle, Nontombi Marylucy

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Health and Medical Publishing Group

Abstract

The emergence of resistance to multiple antimicrobial agents in pathogenic bacteria is a significant public health threat, as there are limited effective antimicrobial agents for infections caused by multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria. Several MDR bacteria are now frequently detected. Carbapenem resistance in Enterobacteriaceae is often plasmid mediated, necessitating stringent infection control practices. We describe an outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Providencia rettgeri involving 4 patients admitted to intensive care and high-care units at a tertiary hospital. Clinical and demographic characteristics of 4 patients with carbapenem-resistant P. rettgeri were documented. All P. rettgeri isolated in these cases had a carbapenem-resistant antibiogram, with resistance to imipenem, ertapenem and meropenem. These cases could be epidemiologically linked. A multiprong approach, simultaneously targeting antibiotic stewardship, universal precautions and appropriate transmission-based precaution practices, is integral to prevention and control of nosocomial infections.

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Keywords

Infections, Intensive care, Providencia rettgeri, Pathogenic bacteria, Multidrug-resistant (MDR), MDR bacteria, Providencia rettgeri

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Citation

Tshisevhe, VS, Lekalakala, MR, Tshuma, N, Janse Van Rensburg, S & Mbelle, N 2017, 'Outbreak of carbapenem-resistant Providencia rettgeri in a tertiary hospital', South African Medical Journal, vol. 107, no. 1, pp. 31-33.