A six-month Serratia marcescens outbreak in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit / Brote epidémico por Serratia marcescens en una Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos Neonatales

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens) outbreak in a Neonatal Unit in a tertiary university hospital. METHODS: Descriptive study of children admitted to the Unit with S. marcescens infection from November 2012 to March 2013. Conventional microbiological methods for clinical and environmental samples were used. The clonal relationship between all available isolates was established by molecular methods. A multidisciplinary team was formed, and preventive measures were taken. RESULTS: S. marcescens was isolated from 18 children. The overall attack rate was 12%, and the case fatality rate in the Intensive Care Unit was 23.5%. The most prevalent types of infections were pneumonia (6), conjunctivitis (6), and bloodstream infection (5). Clinical isolates and environmental isolates obtained from an incubator belonged to a unique clone. The clonal relationship between all S. marcescens strains helped us to identify the possible source of the outbreak. CONCLUSION: Isolation of S. marcescens from stored water in a container, and from the surface of an incubator after cleaning, suggests a possible environmental source as the outbreak origin, which has been perpetuated due to a failure of cleaning methods in the Unit. The strict hygiene and cleaning measures were the main factors that contributed to the end of the outbreak

OBJETIVO: Investigar un brote por Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens) en una unidad de neonatología en un hospital universitario de tercer nivel. MÉTODO: Estudio descriptivo de los pacientes ingresados en la Unidad de noviembre de 2012 a marzo de 2013. Se usaron métodos microbiológicos convencionales de muestras clínicas y ambientales. La relación clonal de los aislados disponibles se llevó a cabo mediante estudio molecular. Se formó un equipo multidisciplinar a partir del cual se tomaron las medidas preventivas. RESULTADOS: Se aisló S. marcescens en 18 niños. La tasa global de ataque fue del 12% y la letalidad en la Unidad de Cuidados Intensivos llegó al 23,5%. Los tipos de infección más frecuentes fueron la neumonía (6), conjuntivitis (6) y bacteriemia (5). Tanto las muestras clínicas como las ambientales obtenidas de una incubadora pertenecían a un único clon. La relación clonal entre todas las cepas de S. marcescens permitió identificar la posible fuente de infección del brote. CONCLUSIÓN: El aislamiento de S. marcescens en agua almacenada en un contenedor y en la superficie de una incubadora tras su limpieza sugiere una posible fuente ambiental como el origen del brote, perpetuado por fallos en los métodos de limpieza en la Unidad. El cumplimiento estricto de la higiene de manos y mejora en la limpieza fueron los principales factores que contribuyeron a la finalización del brote

A six-month Serratia marcescens outbreak in a Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate a Serratia marcescens (S. marcescens) outbreak in a Neonatal Unit in a tertiary university hospital. METHODS: Descriptive study of children admitted to the Unit with S. marcescens infection from November 2012 to March 2013. Conventional microbiological methods for clinical and environmental samples were used. The clonal relationship between all available isolates was established by molecular methods. A multidisciplinary team was formed, and preventive measures were taken. RESULTS: S. marcescens was isolated from 18 children. The overall attack rate was 12%, and the case fatality rate in the Intensive Care Unit was 23.5%. The most prevalent types of infections were pneumonia (6), conjunctivitis (6), and bloodstream infection (5). Clinical isolates and environmental isolates obtained from an incubator belonged to a unique clone. The clonal relationship between all S. marcescens strains helped us to identify the possible source of the outbreak. CONCLUSION: Isolation of S. marcescens from stored water in a container, and from the surface of an incubator after cleaning, suggests a possible environmental source as the outbreak origin, which has been perpetuated due to a failure of cleaning methods in the Unit. The strict hygiene and cleaning measures were the main factors that contributed to the end of the outbreak.

[Prevalence of depression and associated medical and psychosocial factors in elderly hospitalized patients with heart failure in Spain]. / Prevalencia de depresión, y factores biomédicos y psicosociales asociados, en ancianos hospitalizados con insuficiencia cardiaca en España.

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES: This study provides an estimate of the prevalence of depression, and identifies associated medical and psychosocial factors, in elderly hospitalized patients with heart failure (HF) in Spain. METHODS: The study included 433 patients aged 65 years or more who underwent emergency admission at four Spanish hospitals between January 2000 and June 2001 and who had a primary or secondary diagnosis of HF. Depression was defined as the presence of three or more symptoms on the 10-item Geriatric Depression Scale. RESULTS: In total, 210 (48.5%) study participants presented with depression: 71 men (37.6%) and 139 women (57.0%). Depression was more common in patients with the following characteristics: NYHA functional class III-IV (adjusted odds ratio or aOR=2.00, 95% confidence interval or 95% CI, 1.23-3.24), poor score on the physical domain of the quality-of-life assessment (aOR=3.14; 95% CI, 1.98-4.99), being dependent for one or two basic activities of daily living (BADLs) (aOR=2.52; 95% CI, 1.41-4.51), being dependent for > or =3 BADLs (aOR=2.47; 95% CI, 1.20-5.07), being limited in at least one instrumental activity of daily living (aOR=2.20: 95% CI, 1.28-3.79), previous hospitalization for HF (aOR=1.71; 95% CI, 1.93-5.45), spending more than 2 hours/day alone at home (aOR=3.24; 95% CI, 1.93-5.45), and being dissatisfied with their primary care physician (aOR=1.90; 95% CI, 1.14-3.17). CONCLUSIONS: Depression is very common in elderly hospitalized patients with HF and is associated with several medical and psychosocial factors. The high prevalence of depression, the poorer prognosis for HF in patients with depressive symptoms, and the existence of simple diagnostic tools and effective treatment argue in favor of systematic screening for depression in these patients.

Prevalencia de depresión, y factores biomédicos y psicosociales asociados, en ancianos hospitalizados con insuficiencia cardiaca en España / Prevalence of Depression and Associated Medical and Psychosocial Factors in Elderly Hospitalized Patients With Heart Failure in Spain

Introducción y objetivos. En este trabajo se estima la prevalencia de depresión y se identifican los factores biomédicos y psicosociales asociados en ancianos hospitalizados con insuficiencia cardiaca en España. Métodos. Se estudió a 433 pacientes ≥ 65 años ingresados de urgencia en 4 hospitales españoles desde enero de 2000 hasta junio de 2001, con diagnóstico principal o secundario de insuficiencia cardiaca. Se consideró que había depresión ante la presencia de 3 síntomas en la Escala de Depresión Geriátrica de 10 ítems. Resultados. Del total de pacientes estudiados, 210 (48,5%) presentaron depresión. Las cifras correspondientes fueron 71 (37,6%) en varones y 139 (57,0%) en mujeres. La depresión fue más frecuente en los pacientes con las siguientes características: grado funcional III-IV de la NYHA (odds ratio ajustada [ORa] = 2,00; intervalo de confianza [IC] del 95%, 1,23-3,24); peor puntuación en los aspectos físicos de la calidad vida (ORa = 3,14; IC del 95%,1,98-4,99); dependencia en 1 o 2 actividades básicas de la vida diaria (ABVD) (ORa = 2,52; IC del 95%, 1,41-4,51); dependencia en 3 o más ABVD (ORa = 2,47; IC del 95%, 1,20-5,07); limitación en alguna actividad instrumental de la vida diaria (ORa = 2,20; IC del 95%, 1,28- 3,79); hospitalización previa por insuficiencia cardiaca (ORa = 1,71; IC del 95%, 1,93-5,45); estaban solos en casa más de 2 h al día (ORa = 3,24; IC del 95%, 1,93- 5,45); menor satisfacción con el médico de atención primaria (ORa = 1,90; IC del 95%, 1,14-3,17). Conclusiones. La depresión es muy frecuente en los ancianos hospitalizados con insuficiencia cardiaca, y se asocia con varios factores biomédicos y psicosociales. Esta elevada frecuencia, el peor pronóstico de la insuficiencia cardiaca en presencia de síntomas depresivos y la existencia de instrumentos diagnósticos sencillos y un tratamiento eficaz apoyan el cribado sistemático de la depresión en estos pacientes (AU)

Introduction and objectives. This study provides an estimate of the prevalence of depression, and identifies associated medical and psychosocial factors, in elderly hospitalized patients with heart failure (HF) in Spain. Methods. The study included 433 patients aged 65 years or more who underwent emergency admission at four Spanish hospitals between January 2000 and June 2001 and who had a primary or secondary diagnosis of HF. Depression was defined as the presence of three or more symptoms on the 10-item Geriatric Depression Scale. Results. In total, 210 (48.5%) study participants presented with depression: 71 men (37.6%) and 139 women (57.0%). Depression was more common in patients with the following characteristics: NYHA functional class III-IV (adjusted odds ratio or aOR=2.00, 95% confidence interval or 95% CI, 1.23-3.24), poor score on the physical domain of the quality-of-life assessment (aOR=3.14; 95% CI, 1.98-4.99), being dependent for one or two basic activities of daily living (BADLs) (aOR=2.52; 95% CI, 1.41-4.51), being dependent for ≥3 BADLs (aOR=2.47; 95% CI, 1.20-5.07), being limited in at least one instrumental activity of daily living (aOR=2.20: 95% CI, 1.28-3.79), previous hospitalization for HF (aOR=1.71; 95% CI, 1.93-5.45), spending more than 2 hours/day alone at home (aOR=3.24; 95% CI, 1.93-5.45), and being dissatisfied with their primary care physician (aOR=1.90; 95% CI, 1.14-3.17). Conclusions. Depression is very common in elderly hospitalized patients with HF and is associated with several medical and psychosocial factors. The high prevalence of depression, the poorer prognosis for HF in patients with depressive symptoms, and the existence of simple diagnostic tools and effective treatment argue in favor of systematic screening for depression in these patients (AU)