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We report an outbreak of parainfluenza 3, which had an attack rate of 30%, in a residential care facility in Melbourne, Australia. One-fifth of affected residents required hospitalization, but there were no deaths. The outbreak demonstrated the value of active surveillance and early microbiologic testing and the urgent need for antimicrobial stewardship programs in the aged care setting., (Copyright © 2017 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

Reports of outbreaks involving Carbapenemase resistant Enterobacteriaceae have been associated with gastrointestinal endoscopy. We used Adenosinetriphosphate (ATP) bioluminescence to demonstrate cleanliness prior to Endoscopic Retrograde Cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). We compared ATP testing with microbiological monitoring for 40 duodenoscopes. ATP testing of duodenoscopes prior to ERCP procedures provided a timely marker of safety and quality.

Objective: To describe successful termination of an outbreak of vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (VREfm) colonization within a neonatal service., Setting: Multisite neonatal intensive care unit and special care nurseries within a single health care service., Participants: Forty-four cases of VREfm-colonized neonatal inpatients-including 2 clinical isolates (eye swab and catheter-urine specimen) and 42 screening isolates., Interventions: Active surveillance cultures, patient isolation, contact precautions, enhanced environment cleaning, and staff and parent education. Whole genome sequencing and multilocus sequence typing were used to characterize the outbreak and refine infection control procedures., Results: Peak prevalence of VREfm colonization across all sites was 31% upon discovery of the outbreak. Subsequent to the intervention, transmission was halted within 8 weeks and no further isolates of the outbreak strain have been detected as of 12 months following outbreak cessation. Environmental swabs revealed VREfm colonization of baby-weighing scales, a baby bath, and a pharmacy refrigerator within the neonatal intensive care unit. All isolates were of a single multilocus sequence type (sequence type 796) and highly clonal at the core genome level., Conclusions: Bundled infection control interventions were effective in rapidly terminating a clonal outbreak of sequence type 796 VREfm colonization within a neonatal inpatient service. Strain-typing and active surveillance cultures were critical in guiding the management of this outbreak. The closed environment of a neonatal unit likely facilitated eradication of the patient and environment reservoirs of VREfm colonization., (Copyright © 2015 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

We report an outbreak of norovirus gastroenteritis occurring concurrently over two wards. Environmental cleaning was managed using two different methodologies: one ward utilized the traditional 2-step method, the other using microfiber-steam technology. Environmental cleaning using the microfiber-steam technology proved to be an effective and efficient cleaning methodology, appropriate for use during an outbreak situation., (Copyright © 2013 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Mosby, Inc. All rights reserved.)

Colonization of neonatal intensive care units by Serratia marcescens is associated with clinical outbreaks. We report the management of an outbreak in a newborn services unit (NBS), in 2004, of a strain of S. marcescens that was present in the unit from 1994. Over the 10-year period, increases in clinical isolates demonstrated three epidemic curves, each spanning 3-4 years and each involving positive blood cultures. In 2004, clinical isolates of S. marcescens bacteremia prompted an investigation. Control measures including screening, creation of a separate unit, use of contact precautions, education, environmental sampling, strategies to reduce overcrowding, surveillance and molecular epidemiological techniques were implemented. In total, 99 babies were either colonized or infected with S. marcescens between December 2003 and December 2005. Isolates were tested with ribotyping identifying one main endemic strain. No environmental source was found, however, the outbreak terminated following adherence to infection control principles. Epidemiological information, structural and practice changes were used to prevent transmission and control the outbreak.

Background: Physical removal of soil rather than biocidal activity is the focus for this safer cleaning method. Methods: We compared 11 years of Victorian healthcare norovirus and suspected viral gastroenteritis outbreak data. Results: Improvements in infection control practice, including the Victorian hand hygiene program corresponds with reduced illness across Victoria during that time. Monash Health reductions are statistically significant and coincide with the implementation of a novel cleaning methodology. Conclusion: Cleaning without chemicals has not increased the risk of norovirus or suspected viral gastroenteritis illness at Monash Health. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]