Investigating transmission patterns among preterm neonates during an outbreak of necrotizing enterocolitis related to Clostridium butyricum using whole-genome sequencing
{"title":"Investigating transmission patterns among preterm neonates during an outbreak of necrotizing enterocolitis related to Clostridium butyricum using whole-genome sequencing","authors":"","doi":"10.1016/j.jhin.2024.07.009","DOIUrl":null,"url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Necrotizing enterocolitis is the most severe life-threatening acquired gastrointestinal disorder among preterm neonates. We describe here an outbreak of <em>Clostridium butyricum-</em>related necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm neonates that occurred in three different neonatal centres, in southeast France.</p></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><p>We defined a confirmed case of <em>C. butyricum</em>-related necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm neonates by the presence of clinical signs according to modified Bell criteria and <em>C. butyricum</em> identified from stool samples using real-time polymerase chain reaction or culture. A phylogenetic analysis of the isolated strains by whole-genome sequencing was also performed.</p></div><div><h3>Results</h3><p>Between 5<sup>th</sup> and 27<sup>th</sup> January 2022, we identified 10 confirmed cases of <em>C. butyricum-</em>related necrotizing enterocolitis<em>,</em> including five from Neonatal Centre 1, four from Neonatal Centre 2, and one from Neonatal Centre 3. The attack rate of necrotizing enterocolitis in Neonatal Centre 1 was 7.1% (5/70). The positivity rate of <em>C. butyricum</em> detected from stool samples was higher during the outbreak period (37/276; 13.4%) than outside this period (7/369; 1.9%), while systematic screening was maintained (<em>P</em><0.001). Phylogenetic analysis showed a clonality between strains inside four clusters. Two clusters included neonates hospitalized in different neonatal centres, suggesting the transmission of <em>C. butyricum</em> strains during the transfer of neonates between neonatal centres.</p></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>This outbreak of <em>C. butyricum-</em>related necrotizing enterocolitis confirms a cross-transmission between preterm neonates, including twin or triplet siblings, and involving necrotizing enterocolitis cases together with asymptomatic carriers. After three months of follow-up, no further cases were identified following the implementation of contact precautions with sporicidal agents.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":54806,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Hospital Infection","volume":null,"pages":null},"PeriodicalIF":3.9000,"publicationDate":"2024-07-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":"0","resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":null,"PeriodicalName":"Journal of Hospital Infection","FirstCategoryId":"3","ListUrlMain":"https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195670124002627","RegionNum":3,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":null,"EPubDate":"","PubModel":"","JCR":"Q1","JCRName":"INFECTIOUS DISEASES","Score":null,"Total":0}
引用次数: 0
Abstract
Background
Necrotizing enterocolitis is the most severe life-threatening acquired gastrointestinal disorder among preterm neonates. We describe here an outbreak of Clostridium butyricum-related necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm neonates that occurred in three different neonatal centres, in southeast France.
Methods
We defined a confirmed case of C. butyricum-related necrotizing enterocolitis in preterm neonates by the presence of clinical signs according to modified Bell criteria and C. butyricum identified from stool samples using real-time polymerase chain reaction or culture. A phylogenetic analysis of the isolated strains by whole-genome sequencing was also performed.
Results
Between 5th and 27th January 2022, we identified 10 confirmed cases of C. butyricum-related necrotizing enterocolitis, including five from Neonatal Centre 1, four from Neonatal Centre 2, and one from Neonatal Centre 3. The attack rate of necrotizing enterocolitis in Neonatal Centre 1 was 7.1% (5/70). The positivity rate of C. butyricum detected from stool samples was higher during the outbreak period (37/276; 13.4%) than outside this period (7/369; 1.9%), while systematic screening was maintained (P<0.001). Phylogenetic analysis showed a clonality between strains inside four clusters. Two clusters included neonates hospitalized in different neonatal centres, suggesting the transmission of C. butyricum strains during the transfer of neonates between neonatal centres.
Conclusions
This outbreak of C. butyricum-related necrotizing enterocolitis confirms a cross-transmission between preterm neonates, including twin or triplet siblings, and involving necrotizing enterocolitis cases together with asymptomatic carriers. After three months of follow-up, no further cases were identified following the implementation of contact precautions with sporicidal agents.
期刊介绍：
The Journal of Hospital Infection is the editorially independent scientific publication of the Healthcare Infection Society. The aim of the Journal is to publish high quality research and information relating to infection prevention and control that is relevant to an international audience.
The Journal welcomes submissions that relate to all aspects of infection prevention and control in healthcare settings. This includes submissions that:
provide new insight into the epidemiology, surveillance, or prevention and control of healthcare-associated infections and antimicrobial resistance in healthcare settings;
provide new insight into cleaning, disinfection and decontamination;
provide new insight into the design of healthcare premises;
describe novel aspects of outbreaks of infection;
throw light on techniques for effective antimicrobial stewardship;
describe novel techniques (laboratory-based or point of care) for the detection of infection or antimicrobial resistance in the healthcare setting, particularly if these can be used to facilitate infection prevention and control;
improve understanding of the motivations of safe healthcare behaviour, or describe techniques for achieving behavioural and cultural change;
improve understanding of the use of IT systems in infection surveillance and prevention and control.
求助内容：
应助结果提醒方式：
京公网安备 11010802042870号
