A polymicrobial outbreak of surgical site infections following cardiac surgery at a community hospital in Florida, 2011-2012

Am J Infect Control. 2014 Apr;42(4):432-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2013.11.021.

Abstract

We describe an outbreak of 22 sternal surgical site infections following cardiac surgery, including 4 Gordonia infections. Possible operation room environmental contamination and suboptimal infection control practices regarding scrub attire may have contributed to the outbreak.

Keywords: Environmental contamination; Gordonia; Infection control.

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Bacteria / isolation & purification*
  • Coinfection / epidemiology*
  • Coinfection / microbiology
  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Female
  • Florida / epidemiology
  • Hospitals, Community*
  • Humans
  • Infection Control / methods
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Surgical Wound Infection / epidemiology*
  • Surgical Wound Infection / microbiology
  • Thoracic Surgery*