1. Long-lasting nosocomial persistence of chlorhexidine-resistant Serratia marcescens in a veterinary hospital.
- Author
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Keck N, Dunie-Merigot A, Dazas M, Hirchaud E, Laurence S, Gervais B, Madec JY, and Haenni M
- Subjects
- Animals, Cat Diseases epidemiology, Cat Diseases microbiology, Cats microbiology, Cross Infection epidemiology, Cross Infection microbiology, Dog Diseases epidemiology, Dog Diseases microbiology, Dogs microbiology, France epidemiology, Hospitals, Animal, Microbial Sensitivity Tests, Retrospective Studies, Serratia Infections epidemiology, Serratia marcescens drug effects, Serratia marcescens genetics, Chlorhexidine pharmacology, Cross Infection veterinary, Disease Outbreaks veterinary, Disinfectants pharmacology, Drug Resistance, Bacterial, Serratia Infections veterinary
- Abstract
Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) are often overlooked in veterinary medicine. Serratia marcescens isolates were recovered over a ten-year period from companion animals in a French veterinary hospital. The pets were sampled either for diagnostic purposes or to monitor colonization. A retrospective study showed that 32 S. marcescens isolates were identified as HAI cases and a further 22 cases were associated with colonization of the surgical site. Two S. marcescens lineages were responsible for two different outbreaks during the study period. Chlorhexidine solution (1%) used to impregnate gauze was found to be the source of the second S. marcescens outbreak and all isolates had high MIC values for chlorhexidine (MIC = 128 mg/L). This study reports, for the first time to our knowledge, the nosocomial spread of chlorhexidine-resistant S. marcescens in a veterinary setting and highlights consequences of the improper use of disinfectants., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that this research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest., (Copyright © 2020. Published by Elsevier B.V.)
- Published
- 2020
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