Chryseobacterium (Flavobacterium) meningosepticum outbreak associated withcolonization of water taps in a neonatal intensive care unit

From September 1994 to May 1996, a strain of multi-resistant Chryseobacteri um (Flavobacterium) meningosepticum was isolated from eight neonates on a n eonatal intensive care unit. The strain was resistant to ampicillin, ceftaz idime, imipenem, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprimsulphamethoxazol e, susceptible to piperacillin and amikacin, and had variable susceptibilit y to rifampicin and vancomycin. Two neonates were infected (one had pneumon ia and one septicaemia and meningitis); the remaining six neonates were col onized in the respiratory secretions. Two cases occurred that could not be explained by cross-infection during the outbreak. Environmental screening r ecovered C. meningosepticum from sink taps. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresi s of chromosomal macrorestriction digests of patient and environmental isol ates showed them to be representatives of a single strain. The outbreak was controlled after staff were required to use an alcoholic handrub after was hing hands, and toiletting of babies was done with sterile water instead of tap-water. Repair and chlorination of the Rater-tanks and changing the sin k-taps resolves the outbreak. (C) 2001 The Hospital Infection Society.