objective. Risk factors for rectal carriage of ESBL-E and transmission were investigated in an outbreak of extended-spectrum β-lactamaseproducing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E).design. Rectal carriage of ESBL-E was determined in a cross-sectional survey by culture of perianal swabs or fecal samples. Both phenotypical and genotypical methods were used to detect the production of ESBL. Nosocomial transmission was defined as the presence of genotypically related strains in ≥2 residents within the NH. Patient characteristics and variables in infection control practices were registered to investigate risk factors for transmission.setting. A nursing home (NH) in the southern Netherlands.participants. Of 189 residents, 160 residents (84.7%) were screened for ESBL-E carriage. Of these 160 residents, 33 (20.6%) were ESBL-E positive. ESBL carriage rates varied substantially between wards (range, 0-47%). Four different ESBL-E clusters were observed. A bla CTX-M1-15 positive E. coli ST131 constituted the largest cluster (n = 21) and was found in multiple wards (n = 7).results. Our investigation revealed extensive clonal dissemination of bla CTX-M1-15 -positive E. coli ST131 in a nursing home. Unexplained differences in ESBL prevalence were detected among the wards.conclusions. As NHs constitute potential sources of multidrug-resistant bacteria, it is important to gain a better understanding of the risks factors and routes of transmission of ESBL-E. 2015;36(4):394-400 Infections due to extended-spectrum β-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) are a major health concern worldwide.
Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol1 Until the late 1990s, most ESBL-E were related to healthcare settings, typically Klebsiella pneumoniae, and predominantly carried mutant forms of the long-established TEM or SHV penicillinases. However, since the turn of the century, ESBL-Es have become widespread outside the hospital, and strains of Escherichia coli with CTX-M ESBL have become prominant. 2 The dissemination of some successful strains, such as E. coli sequence type ST131, often in the presence of CTX-M1-15 resistance genes, has been reported in association with healthcare settings and elderly hosts.3 Nursing homes (NHs) may become reservoirs of ESBL-producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) because the residents frequently require medical care and antimicrobial therapy. 4,5 Residents colonized with ESBL-E in the gastrointestinal tract may serve as reservoirs for others. 6 Once resistance is present in an NH, resistant strains tend to persist and become endemic because the length of stay is much longer than in acute care hospitals and infection control practices are less stringent.
7A cross-sectional survey, performed in an NH in the southern Netherlands, revealed a high proportion of residents with rectal ESBL-E carriage. 8 The results of this survey were further investigated, and an outbreak of ESBL-E. coli sequence type ST131 was detected. We further investigated risk factors for rectal carriage of ESBL-E and transmission of the outbreak strain...