Contaminated Incubators: Source of a Multispecies Enterobacter Outbreak of Neonatal Sepsis
Enrique Hernández Alonso, Nadège Bourgeois‐Nicolaos, M. Lepainteur, Véronique Derouin, Simon Barreault, Adam Waalkes, Luis A. Augusto, Stuti Gera, Orane Gleizes, Pierre Tissières, Stephen J. Salipante, Danièle De Luca, Florence Doucet‐Populaire
Abstract
Neonatal incubators in the NICU can be an important reservoir of pathogens responsible for life-threatening outbreaks in neonatal patients. Traditional disinfection with antiseptics is not sufficient to eradicate the microorganisms that can persist for long periods in the different reservoirs. Identification and elimination of the reservoirs are crucial for outbreak prevention and control. In our investigation, using a new strategy of microbiological screening of neonatal incubators, we demonstrated that these were the primary source of contamination. After their replacement, the outbreak was controlled. This new methodology was effective in containing this outbreak and could be a viable alternative for infection prevention and control in outbreak situations involving incubators as a reservoir.