The higher disinfectant resistance of nosocomial isolates of Klebsiella oxytoca: how reliable are indicator organisms in disinfectant testing?

• Published in: The Journal of hospital infection Vol. 50; no. 4; pp. 309 - 311
• Main Authors: Gebel, J., Sonntag, H.-G., Werner, H.-P., Vacata, V., Exner, M., Kistemann, T.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kent Elsevier Ltd 01-04-2002; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Antibiotics. Antiinfectious agents. Antiparasitic agents; Antiseptics; Biological and medical sciences; Cleaning utensils, disinfectant resistance, Klebsiella oxytoca, reliability of testing procedures; Cross Infection - etiology; Cross Infection - mortality; Cross Infection - prevention & control; Disinfectants - therapeutic use; Drug Resistance, Microbial; Equipment Contamination; Germany; Humans; Infant; Infant, Newborn; Klebsiella - drug effects; Klebsiella - isolation & purification; Klebsiella Infections - etiology; Klebsiella Infections - mortality; Medical sciences; Pharmacology. Drug treatments; Germany; Cleaning utensils, disinfectant resistance, Klebsiella oxytoca, reliability of testing procedures; Nosocomial infection; Drug susceptibility test; Use; Disinfection; Indicator; Resistance; Klebsiella oxytoca; Antiseptic; Bacteria; Procedure; Disinfecting agent; Reliability; Enterobacteriaceae
• ISSN: 0195-6701; 1532-2939
• DOI: 10.1053/jhin.2002.1201

The Children's Clinic in Giessen, Germany recently reported several severe infections withKlebsiella oxytoca resulting in deaths of two neonates. The putative source of the infections was a ;contaminated infusion solution. The resistance to disinfectant of the K. oxytoca isolates was investigated in three independent laboratories and was indeed found to be significantly increased. Comparative tests with standard strains of K. oxytoca and other recommended bacterial surrogates showed the disinfection procedures used were fully effective. The higher resistance of the nosocomial isolates may have developed due to improper handling and storage of the cleaning utensils. This report describes the events and draws conclusions concerning the use of disinfectants, the treatment of cleaning utensils, the reliability of procedures for testing disinfectants, and suggests additional measures.