EPIDEMIC OF PSEUDOMONAS-CEPACIA IN AN ADULT CYSTIC-FIBROSIS UNIT - EVIDENCE OF PERSON-TO-PERSON TRANSMISSION

An epidemic of Pseudomonas cepacia occurred in an adult cystic fibrosi s center in the United Kingdom, despite a policy of segregation of inf ected and noninfected patients within the hospital. Investigation of t he outbreak by ribotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to char acterize P. cepacia strain genomes together with inquiry into social c ontacts between patients revealed evidence of person-to-person transmi ssion outside the hospital environment. Segregation policies aimed at reducing the spread of this infection in the cystic fibrosis community need to encompass patient contacts outside the hospital environment.