Horizontal transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the surgical ward: a rare source of nosocomial wound infection

Marlène Guillet; Jean-Ralph Zahar; Marc-Olivier Timsit; Laure Grandin; Etienne Carbonnelle; Olivier Join-Lambert; Gilles Quesne; Xavier Nassif; Arnaud Mejean; Anne Carbonne

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2011.02.012

Horizontal transmission of Streptococcus pneumoniae in the surgical ward: a rare source of nosocomial wound infection

Am J Infect Control. 2012 Feb;40(1):71-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2011.02.012. Epub 2011 Jul 20.

Authors

Marlène Guillet¹, Jean-Ralph Zahar, Marc-Olivier Timsit, Laure Grandin, Etienne Carbonnelle, Olivier Join-Lambert, Gilles Quesne, Xavier Nassif, Arnaud Mejean, Anne Carbonne

Affiliation

¹ Microbiology-Infection Control Unit, Necker Hospital, Assistance Public Hospital of Paris, Paris, France.

PMID: 21764182
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2011.02.012

Abstract

Streptococcus pneumoniae is rarely isolated from nosocomial infections. We report an outbreak of 4 nosocomial-acquired surgical site infections due to S pneumoniae after retropubic simple prostatectomy. The likely source was detected in the rhinopharynx of the surgeon. After the implementation of recommendations, no new cases have been recorded.

Publication types

Case Reports

MeSH terms

Carrier State / microbiology
Cross Infection / epidemiology*
Cross Infection / microbiology
Cross Infection / transmission
Disease Outbreaks*
Disease Transmission, Infectious*
Humans
Nasopharynx / microbiology
Physicians
Pneumococcal Infections / epidemiology*
Pneumococcal Infections / microbiology
Pneumococcal Infections / transmission
Prostatectomy / adverse effects
Streptococcus pneumoniae / isolation & purification*
Surgical Wound Infection / epidemiology*
Surgical Wound Infection / microbiology
Surgical Wound Infection / transmission