Successful management of an XXXX outbreak in a neonatal intensive care unit.

@entity1 @entity2176 @entity283 @entity794 @entity344
We report an @entity794 outbreak in our 25-bed tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), which was successfully contained. Methods include a retrospective review of @entity1 files, microbiology records and meeting protocols. During the seven months of outbreak, 27 @entity1 and seven @entity283 ( @entity283 ) had positive cultures for @entity794 . The outbreak was caused by the epidemic Rhine-Hessen strain; cultured isolates were monoclonal. After a sharp increase of the number of new @entity794 -cases the installation of an outbreak management team (OMT) and implementation of comprehensive measures (extensive screening and decolonization strategy including orally applied @entity2176 , isolation wards, intensive disinfection regimen) successfully terminated the outbreak within one month. Ten (53%) of 19 @entity1 with completed follow-up and all of the @entity283 were decolonized successfully. Gastrointestinal colonization was present in 15 of 27 (56%) neonates, and was associated with poor decolonization success (30% vs. 78% in absence of @entity344 ). A comprehensive outbreak management can terminate an outbreak in a NICU setting within a short time. Thorough screening of nares, throat and especially stool is necessary for correct cohorting. Gastrointestinal decolonization in neonates seems difficult.
