%0 Journal Article
%T Retrospective genome-oriented analysis reveals low transmission rate of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa from contaminated toilets at a bone marrow transplant unit.
%A Rath A
%A Kieninger B
%A Hahn J
%A Edinger M
%A Holler E
%A Kratzer A
%A Fritsch J
%A Eichner A
%A Caplunik-Pratsch A
%A Schneider-Brachert W
%J J Hosp Infect
%V 150
%N 0
%D 2024 Aug 1
%M 38830540
%F 8.944
%R 10.1016/j.jhin.2024.05.015
%X <B>BACKGROUND: </B>Prevention of toilet-to-patient transmission of multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDR PA) poses management-related challenges at many bone marrow transplant units (BMTUs).<BR><B>OBJECTIVE: </B>To conduct a longitudinal retrospective analysis of the toilet-to-patient transmission rate for MDR PA under existing infection control (IC) measures at a BMTU with persistent MDR PA toilet colonization.<BR><B>METHODS: </B>The local IC bundle comprised: (1) patient education regarding IC; (2) routine patient screening; (3) toilet flushing volume of 9 L; (4) bromination of toilet water tanks, and (5) toilet decontamination using hydrogen peroxide. Toilet water was sampled periodically between 2016 and 2021 (minimum every three months: 26 intervals). Upon MDR PA detection, disinfection and re-sampling were repeated until ≤3 cfu/100 mL was reached. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) was performed retrospectively on all available MDR PA isolates (90 out of 117 positive environmental samples, 10 out of 14 patients, including nine nosocomial).<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>WGS of patient isolates identified six sequence types (STs), with ST235/CT1352/FIM-1 and ST309/CT3049/no-carbapenemase being predominant (three isolates each). Environmental sampling consistently identified MDR PA ST235 (65.5% ST235/CT1352/FIM-1), showing low genetic diversity (difference of ≤29 alleles by core-genome multi-locus sequence typing (cgMLST)). This indicates that direct toilet-to-patient transmission was infrequent although MDR PA was widespread (detection on 79 occasions, detection in every toilet). Only three MDR PA patient isolates can be attributed to the ST235/CT1352/FIM-1 toilet MRD PA population over six years.<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>Stringent targeted toilet disinfection can reduce the potential risk for MDR PA acquisition by patients.