Prolonged outbreak of clonal, mupirocin-resistant methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in a neonatal intensive care unit: association with personnel and a possible environmental reservoir, analyzed using whole genome sequencing.

Background: Outbreaks of MRSA occur in NICUs and may be difficult to control. We describe an outbreak of mupirocin-resistant MRSA, molecular epidemiology of isolates and control.
Methods: Medical record review of personnel contact with infants. MRSA isolates were analyzed by whole genome sequencing (WGS); single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified.
Results: A 31-month outbreak of MRSA infection occurred. Weekly colonization surveillance of infants was initiated; initial prevalence was 45%. Isolates exhibited high level mupirocin-resistance. There were 3 periods of increased colonization and new infections despite implementation of multiple infection prevention interventions. During the second period, an analysis identified a frontline staff member associated with newly colonized infants whose nasal culture grew the clonal MRSA. A marked reduction in colonization followed removal from patient contact. WGS of isolates from years 1-3 showed clonality with maximum SNP differences of 33. Importantly, the year 3 isolates were more closely related to the early year 1 isolates (15-20 SNP differences) than to the late year 1 or year 2 isolates (18-33 SNP differences).
Discussion/conclusions: During a recrudescent MRSA outbreak due to a clonal strain, both contact with a colonized staff member and a putative environmental or personnel reservoir were associated with MRSA acquisition.
(Copyright © 2021. Published by Elsevier Inc.)