Influence of the Incubator as Direct Patient Environment on Bacterial Colonization of Neonates

Isabel Lange; Birgit Edel; Kristin Dawczynski; Hans Proquitté; Mathias W Pletz; Frank Kipp; Claudia Stein

doi:10.3390/microorganisms9122533

Influence of the Incubator as Direct Patient Environment on Bacterial Colonization of Neonates

Microorganisms. 2021 Dec 7;9(12):2533. doi: 10.3390/microorganisms9122533.

Authors

Isabel Lange¹, Birgit Edel², Kristin Dawczynski³, Hans Proquitté⁴, Mathias W Pletz¹, Frank Kipp¹, Claudia Stein¹

Affiliations

¹ Institute for Infectious Diseases and Infection Control, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany.
² Institute of Medical Microbiology, Jena University Hospital, Am Klinikum 1, 07747 Jena, Germany.
³ Department of Pediatrics Weimar, Sophien-und Hufeland Klinikum, Henry-van-de-Velde-Str. 1, 99425 Weimar, Germany.
⁴ Unit of Neonatology, Department of Paediatrics, Jena University Hospital, Friedrich Schiller University Jena, 07747 Jena, Germany.

Abstract

Background: Preventing healthcare-associated infections (HAI) in neonatal intensive care units is a challenge of highest priority. For further insight into the incubator as direct patient environment and potential source for contamination, we present data correlating microbiological samples of very low birthweight infants in the form of colonization results of surveillance screenings with samples of their associated incubator in this study.

Methods: Samples were taken via rectal and throat swabs of neonates as well as Polywipe^® sponges for the incubator. If the same bacterial species was found in corresponding neonate and incubator samples, whole genome sequencing via Illumina technology was performed.

Results: 52 microbiological species matches were found, and 30 matches were sequenced where we found 26 clonal pairs (12 E. faecalis, 10 S. aureus, 2 E. coli, 1 E. cloacae, and 1 E. faecium).

Conclusion: The combinations of measurements of weekly screenings swabs, probing of surfaces with Polywipes^®, and whole genome sequencing showed transmissions of microorganism and risk for potential non-physiological colonization of neonatal infants.

Keywords: colonization; healthcare-associated infections; incubator; infection control; neonatal care; patient environment; transmission; whole genome sequencing.