Open Access. Powered by Scholars. Published by Universities.®
Articles 1 - 1 of 1
Full-Text Articles in Medicine and Health Sciences
Serratia Marcescens Bacteremia Traced To An Infused Narcotic, Belinda E. Ostrowsky , M.D., M.P.H., Cynthia Whitener , M.D., Helen K. Bredenberg , M.D., Loretta A. Carson , M.S., Stacey Holt , B.S., Lori Hutwagner , M.S., Matthew J. Arduino , Dr., Ph.D, William R. Jarvis , M.D.
Serratia Marcescens Bacteremia Traced To An Infused Narcotic, Belinda E. Ostrowsky , M.D., M.P.H., Cynthia Whitener , M.D., Helen K. Bredenberg , M.D., Loretta A. Carson , M.S., Stacey Holt , B.S., Lori Hutwagner , M.S., Matthew J. Arduino , Dr., Ph.D, William R. Jarvis , M.D.
Family Medicine and Population Health Publications
BACKGROUND
From June 30, 1998, through March 21, 1999, several patients in the surgical intensive care unit of a hospital acquired Serratia marcescens bacteremia. We investigated this outbreak.
METHODS
A case was defined as the occurrence of S. marcescens bacteremia in any patient in the surgical intensive care unit during the period of the epidemic. To identify risk factors, we compared patients with S. marcescens bacteremia with randomly selected controls. Isolates from patients and from medications were evaluated by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. The hair of one employee was tested for fentanyl.
RESULTS
Twenty-six patients with S. marcescens bacteremia were identified; …