Epidemiological surveillance of multidrug‐resistant gram‐negative bacteria in a solid organ transplantation department

Background We assessed the impact of intensified infection control measures (ICM) on colonization and infection caused by carbapenem-resistant (CR) Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii in a Solid Organ Transplantation (SOT) Department. Methods A quasi-experimental methodology was followed. The study was divided in 3 periods: pre-intervention, intervention with implementation of an ICM bundle including active surveillance program (ASP) and gradually enhanced measures, and post-ASP without ASP. The bundle included active surveillance cultures, contact precautions, hand hygiene, education of health-care workers (HCWs), monitoring of compliance, and environmental cleaning. Incidence of colonization and infection caused by CR gram-negative bacteria was recorded. Molecular analysis of CR bacteria was performed for a certain period. Results During the intervention, incidence of colonization reduced from 19% to 9% (P<.001). The compliance of HCWs with contact precautions and hand hygiene also improved. Monthly incidence of infections caused by these CR bacteria increased from 2.8 to 6.9/1000 bed-days (P<.001). However, this increase had not such a strong trend after the intervention. Most K. pneumoniae isolates, the commonest pathogen, carried the blaKPC gene. Colonization and infection rates by CR K. pneumoniae, P. aeruginosa, and A. baumannii were high among SOT recipients. Conclusion In settings where CR gram-negative bacteria are endemic, colonization and infection rates by these bacteria are high among SOT recipients. Implementation of enhanced ICM in all related units of a hospital, although challenging, reduce colonization rates by CR gram-negative bacteria. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.