Nosocomial outbreak of drug resistant Streptococcus pneumoniae serotype 9V in an adult respiratory medicine ward.

Jauneikaite E1,2, Khan-Orakzai Z3, Kapatai G4, Bloch S3, Singleton J3, Atkin S5,6, Shah V5,6, Hatcher J3, Samarasinghe D3, Sheppard C4, Fry NK4, Satta G7,8, Sriskandan S9,2.

Author information

Abstract

Streptococcus pneumoniae infections arising in hospitalized patients are often assumed to be sporadic, and linked to community carriage. Here, whole genome sequencing was used to demonstrate nosocomial acquisition of antimicrobially-resistant ST156-9V S. pneumoniae in 3 respiratory patients resulting in two bacteremias and one lower respiratory tract infection. Two of the cases arose in patients who had recently been discharged from hospital and were re-admitted from the community. Nosocomial spread was suspected solely because of a highly unusual resistance pattern and case presentations within 24h of one another. The outbreak highlights a potential for rapid transmission and short incubation period in the respiratory ward setting.