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Reassessing the need for active surveillance of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase–producing Enterobacteriaceae in the neonatal intensive care population

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 October 2018

Xiaoyan Song*
Affiliation:
Children’s National Health System, Washington, DCThe George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC
Lamia Soghier
Affiliation:
Children’s National Health System, Washington, DCThe George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC
Tara Taylor Floyd
Affiliation:
Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC
Tracie R. Harris
Affiliation:
Children’s National Health System, Washington, DC
Billie L. Short
Affiliation:
Children’s National Health System, Washington, DCThe George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC
Roberta L. DeBiasi
Affiliation:
Children’s National Health System, Washington, DCThe George Washington University School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC
*
Author for correspondence: Xiaoyan Song, Children’s National Health System, West Wing 3.5 Suite 100, 111 Michigan Ave NW, Washington, DC 20010. E-mail: xsong@cnmc.org
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Abstract

Objective

To determine the continued need for active surveillance to prevent extended-spectrum β-lactamase–producing Enterobacteriaceae (ESBL-E) transmission in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Design

This retrospective observational study included patients with ESBL-E colonization or infection identified during their NICU stay at our institution between 1999 and March 2018. Active surveillance was conducted between 1999 and March 2017 by testing rectal swab specimens collected upon admission and weekly thereafter. The overall incidence rates, of ESBL-E colonization or infection (including hospital acquired) before and after active surveillance were calculated. The cost associated with active surveillance was then estimated.

Results

Overall, 171 NICU patients were found to have ESBL-E colonization or infection, and 150 of those patients (87.7%) were detected by active surveillance. The overall incidence rate was 1.4 per 100 patient admissions. The hospital-acquired incidence rate was 0.41 per 1,000 patient days, and this rate had decreased since 2002, with an average of 6 cases detected annually. A significant decrease was observed in 2009 when the unit moved to a new single-bed unit featuring private rooms. Active surveillance was discontinued with no increase in the number of infections. Of the 150 ESBL-E colonized patients, 14 (9.3%) subsequently developed an infection. Active surveillance resulted in a total of 50,950 specimen collections and a cost of $127,187 for processing, an average of $848 to detect 1 ESBL-E colonized patient.

Conclusion

ESBL-E transmission and infection in our NICU remains uncommon. Active surveillance may have contributed to the decline of ESBL-E transmission when used in conjunction with contact precautions and private rooms, but its relatively high cost could be prohibitive.

Information

Type
Original Article
Copyright
© 2018 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved. 
Figure 0

Fig. 1Hospital-acquired ESBL-E infection and colonization incidence rate in the neonatal intensive care unit at Children’s National Health System, 1999–March 2017. Hospital-acquired was defined as the detection of ESBL-E for the first time from a specimen collected for either active surveillance or clinical diagnosis after patient being admitted for 48 hours or longer. The center line was calculated as the average incidence rate.

Figure 1

Table 1Characteristics of Patients With the First ESBL-E Colonization Detected by Active Surveillance Between September 2005 and 2016