Risk Factors for Epidemic Xanthomonas maltophilia Infection/Colonization in Intensive Care Unit Patients

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Abstract
Objective: To determine risk factors for and modes of transmission of Xanthomonas maltophilia infection/colonization. Design: Surveillance and cohort study. Setting: A 470-bed tertiary trauma-referral community hospital. Patients: From January 1, 1988 to March 17, 1989, 106 intensive care unit patients developed X maltophilia infection/colonization. We defined a case as any intensive care unit patient who, from July 15, 1988, through March 17, 1989 (epidemic period), had X maltophilia infection/colonization ≥48 hours after intensive care unit admission. We identified 45 case patients and 103 control patients (persons in the shocktrauma intensive care unit for ≥72 hours during the epidemic period who had no X maltophiliapositive culture). Results: Cases were significantly more likely to occur in the shock-trauma intensive care unit than in all other intensive care units combined. Mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy, being transported to the hospital by airplane, and receipt of a higher mean number of antimicrobials were risk factors for X maltophilia infection/colonization. Risk of X maltophilia infection/colonization was significantly greater among cases exposed to a patient with a X maltophilia surgical wound infection than among those without such exposure (relative risk= 1.3, p=.03). Animate and inanimate cultures revealed X maltophilia contamination of the hospital room of a patient with an X maltophilia surgical wound infection, of respiratory therapy equipment in this patient's room, of respirometers shared between patients, and of shock-trauma intensive care unit personnel's hands. Related environmental and clinical isolates were serotype 10. Conclusions: Mechanically ventilated patients receiving antimicrobials in the shocktrauma intensive care unit were at increased risk of X maltophilia infection/colonization. Patients with draining X maltophilia surgical wound infections served as reservoirs for X maltophilia, and contamination of the respirometers and the hands of shock-trauma intensive care unit personnel resulted in patient-to-patient transmission of X maltophilia.