C. Arpin et al., Prospective survey of colonization and infection caused by SHV-4 producingKlebsiella pneumoniae in a neurosurgical intensive care unit, EPIDEM INFE, 124(3), 2000, pp. 401-408
The occurrence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase producing enterobacteria
(ESBLE) has been prospectively surveyed in a neurosurgical intensive care
unit (ICU). Of the 47 patients examined, 8 were identified as faecal carrie
rs, and 2 of them developed a subsequent urinary tract infection. ESBLE wer
e also detected in the immediate environment of five colonized and/or infec
ted patients. All isolates were Klebsiella pneumoniae of a particular bioty
pe which exhibited a similar antibiotype and produced an SHV-4 type beta-la
ctamase. However, plasmid profiling and ribotyping revealed that strains is
olated from seven patients of hall A were a single epidemic clone, whereas
strains isolated from the eighth patient of hall B were different. Comparis
on between the characteristics of patients who carried an ESBLE during the
surveillance period, and control patients who did not, showed that a recent
surgery, and the length of ICU stay were significantly associated with the
acquisition of ESBLE.