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Background In one month, 10 Serratia liquefaciens bloodstream infections and 6 pyrogenic reactions occurred in outpatients at a hemodialysis center.
Methods We performed a cohort study of all hemodialysis sessions on days that staff members reported S. liquefaciens bloodstream infections or pyrogenic reactions. We reviewed procedures and cultured samples of water, medications, soaps, and hand lotions and swabs from the hands of personnel.
Results We analyzed 208 sessions involving 48 patients. In 12 sessions, patients had S. liquefaciens bloodstream infections, and in 8, patients had pyrogenic reactions without bloodstream infection. Sessions with infections or reactions were associated with higher median doses of epoetin alfa than the 188 other sessions (6500 vs. 4000 U, P=0.03) and were more common during afternoon or evening shifts than morning shifts (P=0.03). Sessions with infections or reactions were associated with doses of epoetin alfa of more than 4000 U (multivariate odds ratio, 4.0; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.3 to 12.3). A review of procedures revealed that preservative-free, single-use vials of epoetin alfa were punctured multiple times, and residual epoetin alfa from multiple vials was pooled and administered to patients. S. liquefaciens was isolated from pooled epoetin alfa, empty vials of epoetin alfa, antibacterial soap, and hand lotion. All the isolates were identical by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. After the practice of pooling epoetin alfa was discontinued and the contaminated soap and lotion were replaced, no further S. liquefaciens bloodstream infections or pyrogenic reactions occurred at this hemodialysis facility.
Conclusions Puncturing single-use vials multiple times and pooling preservative-free epoetin alfa caused this outbreak of bloodstream infections in a hemodialysis unit. To prevent similar outbreaks, dialysis units should use medication vials containing the doses most appropriate to their clinical needs.
Source Information
From the Hospital Infections Program (L.A.G., V.R.R., M.J.A., L.A.C., J.I.T., S.C.H., B.J.J., W.R.J.) and the Epidemic Intelligence Service (L.A.G., V.R.R.) and Preventive Medicine Residency (D.R.F.), Division of Applied Public Health Training, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta; and the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, Denver (D.R.F., R.E.H.).
Address reprint requests to Dr. Grohskopf at the Hospital Infections Program, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. NE, Mailstop E-69, Atlanta, GA 30333, or at lkg6{at}cdc.gov.
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