Failure to Communicate: Transmission of Extensively Drug-ResistantblaOXA-237-ContainingAcinetobacter baumannii—Multiple Facilities in Oregon, 2012–2014

Abstract

OBJECTIVETo determine the scope, source, and mode of transmission of a multifacility outbreak of extensively drug-resistant (XDR)Acinetobacter baumannii.DESIGNOutbreak investigation.SETTING AND PARTICIPANTSResidents and patients in skilled nursing facilities, long-term acute-care hospital, and acute-care hospitals.METHODSA case was defined as the incident isolate from clinical or surveillance cultures of XDRAcinetobacter baumanniiresistant to imipenem or meropenem and nonsusceptible to all but 1 or 2 antibiotic classes in a patient in an Oregon healthcare facility during January 2012–December 2014. We queried clinical laboratories, reviewed medical records, oversaw patient and environmental surveillance surveys at 2 facilities, and recommended interventions. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and molecular analysis were performed.RESULTSWe identified 21 cases, highly related by PFGE or healthcare facility exposure. Overall, 17 patients (81%) were admitted to either long-term acute-care hospital A (n=8), or skilled nursing facility A (n=8), or both (n=1) prior to XDRA. baumanniiisolation. Interfacility communication of patient or resident XDR status was not performed during transfer between facilities. The rare plasmid-encoded carbapenemase geneblaOXA-237was present in 16 outbreak isolates. Contact precautions, chlorhexidine baths, enhanced environmental cleaning, and interfacility communication were implemented for cases to halt transmission.CONCLUSIONSInterfacility transmission of XDRA. baumanniicarrying the rare blaOXA-237was facilitated by transfer of affected patients without communication to receiving facilities.Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol2017;38:1335–1341