2023 Volume 38 Issue 3 Pages 132-137
The outbreak occurred due to carbapenemase-producing Enterobacterales (CPE) in our hospital from September to November 2019. CPE was detected in four patients in the same ward. Three patients stayed in the same room, and the other was in the next room. The active screening was performed on patients in the ward. We also underwent 163 environmental surveillances including sampling from faucets, drainage systems, and sink surfaces. Although there were no reports of new CPE carriage from other patients, CPE was isolated from 13 locations, mostly around the drainage systems. Molecular carbapenemase identification with the pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and the polymerase chain reaction were performed. The gene identified included blaIMP-19 in the three patients who had been in the same room and blaIMP-1 in the other patient and drainage systems. All patients required assistance with daily activities, and person-to-person transmission via the hands of medical staff was the primary conduit for transmitting resistant pathogens. Implementation of standard precautions and environmental sterilization could terminate the outbreak due to CPE. Approximately 1 year later, the environmental survey was performed again. CPE isolation was limited to only one location in the waste drain. In addition to environmental sterilization, standard precautions including hand hygiene and cleaning the water environment were significant to prevent recurrence.
