ABSTRACT
An investigation of malaria in a US patient without recent travel established Plasmodium falciparum molecular genotype identity in 2 patients who shared a hospital room. P. falciparum can be transmitted in a hospital environment from patient to patient by blood inoculum if standard precautions are breached.
Subject(s)
Catheters, Indwelling/adverse effects , Cross Infection/parasitology , Malaria, Falciparum/transmission , Sodium Chloride , Syringes , Adolescent , Animals , Antimalarials/therapeutic use , Child , Disposable Equipment/parasitology , Drug Contamination , Female , Humans , Infusions, Parenteral/nursing , Malaria, Falciparum/drug therapy , Male , Plasmodium falciparum/isolation & purification , Syringes/parasitologyABSTRACT
A girl developed Plasmodium falciparum malaria in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, a non-malarious area. Twelve to 18 days before onset, she had been hospitalized for asthma on the same ward as three malaria patients. The only link between the malaria patients and the asthma patient was a multidose heparin container used to fill syringes for use on heparin locks and intravenous devices. Contamination of the heparin with blood occurred on at least one occasion when a needle had been left in place through the septum of this container and was used to refill a used syringe.
