Chryseobacterium (Flavobacterium) meningosepticum outbreak associated with colonization of water taps in a neonatal intensive care unit

From September 1994 to May 1996, a strain of multi-resistant Chryseobacterium (Flavobacterium) meningosepticum was isolated from eight neonates on a neonatal intensive care unit. The strain was resistant to ampicillin, ceftazidime, imipenem, gentamicin, ciprofloxacin and trimethoprimsulphamethoxazole, susceptible to piperacillin and amikacin, and had variable susceptibility to rifampicin and vancomycin. Two neonates were infected (one had pneumonia and one septicaemia and meningitis); the remaining six neonates were colonized in the respiratory secretions. Two cases occurred that could not be explained by cross-infection during the outbreak. Environmental screening recovered C. meningosepticum from sink taps. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of chromosomal macrorestriction digests of patient and environmental isolates showed them to be representatives of a single strain. The outbreak was controlled after staff were required to use an alcoholic handrub after washing hands, and toiletting of babies was done with sterile water instead of tap-water. Repair and chlorination of the Rater-tanks and changing the sink-taps resolves the outbreak. (C) 2001 The Hospital Infection Society.