Nosocomial Serratia marcescens Infections Associated With Extrinsic Contamination of a Liquid Nonmedicated Soap

To determine the role of nonmedicated soap as a source of Serratia marcescens nosocomial infections (NIs) in hospital units with endemic S marcescens NI and to examine the mechanisms of soap colonization. University-affiliated tertiary-care hospitals. A prospective case-control study and an environm...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Infection control and hospital epidemiology 2000-03, Vol.21 (3), p.196-199
Main Authors: Sartor, Catherine, Jacomo, Véronique, Duvivier, Cédric, Tissot‐Dupont, Hervé, Sambuc, Roland, Drancourt, Michel
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Antiseptics
Bacterial diseases
Biological and medical sciences
Case-Control Studies
Cross Infection - epidemiology
Cross Infection - microbiology
Disease Outbreaks
Disinfection
Epidemiology
France
General aspects
Hand Disinfection
Hospital units
Humans
Infection control
Infections
Infectious diseases
Medical sciences
Multi-Institutional Systems
Nosocomial infection
Nursing
Original Articles
Prospective Studies
Pumps
Serratia Infections - epidemiology
Serratia Infections - microbiology
Serratia marcescens
Serratia marcescens - isolation & purification
Soaps
Washing
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Summary:To determine the role of nonmedicated soap as a source of Serratia marcescens nosocomial infections (NIs) in hospital units with endemic S marcescens NI and to examine the mechanisms of soap colonization. University-affiliated tertiary-care hospitals. A prospective case-control study and an environmental investigation were performed to assess the relationship between S marcescens NIs in hospital units and S marcescens-contaminated soap. Soap-bottle use and handwashing practices were reviewed. Cultures of healthcare workers' (HCWs) hands were obtained before and after hand washing with soap. 5 of 7 hospital units with S marcescens NIs had soap bottles contaminated with S marcescens, compared to 1 of 14 other units (P=.006). After hand washing with an S marcescens-contaminated soap pump, HCWs' hands were 54 times more likely to be contaminated with S marcescens (P
ISSN:0899-823X
1559-6834
DOI:10.1086/501743