Multicenter Outbreak of Gram-Negative Bloodstream Infections in Hemodialysis Patients

Rationale & Objective Contaminated water and other fluids are increasingly recognized to be associated with health care–associated infections. We investigated an outbreak of Gram-negative bloodstream infections at 3 outpatient hemodialysis facilities. Study Design Matched case-control investigations. Setting & Participants Patients who received hemodialysis at Facility A, B, or C from July 2015 to November 2016. Exposures Infection control practices, sources of water, dialyzer reuse, injection medication handling, dialysis circuit priming, water and dialysate test findings, environmental reservoirs such as wall boxes, vascular access care practices, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis, and whole-genome sequencing of bacterial isolates. Outcomes Cases were defined by a positive blood culture for any Gram-negative bacteria drawn July 1, 2015 to November 30, 2016 from a patient who had received hemodialysis at Facility A, B, or C. Analytical Approach Exposures in cases and controls were compared using matched univariate conditional logistic regression. Results 58 cases of Gram-negative bloodstream infection occurred; 48 (83%) required hospitalization. The predominant organisms were Serratia marcescens (n=21) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n=12). Compared with controls, cases had higher odds of using a central venous catheter for dialysis (matched odds ratio, 54.32; lower bound of the 95% CI, 12.19). Facility staff reported pooling and regurgitation of waste fluid at recessed wall boxes that house connections for dialysate components and the effluent drain within dialysis treatment stations. Environmental samples yielded S marcescens and P aeruginosa from wall boxes. S marcescens isolated from wall boxes and case-patients from the same facilities were closely related by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and whole-genome sequencing. We identified opportunities for health care workers' hands to contaminate central venous catheters with contaminated fluid from the wall boxes. Limitations Limited patient isolates for testing, on-site investigation occurred after peak of infections. Conclusions This large outbreak was linked to wall boxes, a previously undescribed source of contaminated fluid and biofilms in the immediate patient care environment.