Role of environmental surfaces and hands of healthcare workers in perpetuating multi-drug-resistant pathogens in a neonatal intensive care unit

Conclusion: The hands of HCWs, crash carts and incubators are reservoirs of pathogens and can lead to nosocomial infections. Clusters of multi-drug-resistantKlebsiella pneumoniae andCandida spp. were the predominant neonatal pathogens in this NICU.What is Known:• The role of hands and the environment in transmission of infections to neonates is a subject of debate.• Genetic sequencing provides solid evidence for detecting homologous strains.What is New:• K. pneumoniae was the most frequently isolated pathogen, and concomitant isolation was found in two cases from the neonatal surroundings (bed/incubator) and hands.• Candida spp. with homology were also found in different neonates and environmental samples suggesting risk of transmission.
Source: European Journal of Pediatrics - Category: Pediatrics Source Type: research