Serratia marcescens outbreak due to contaminated 2% aqueous chlorhexidine

Abstract

Introduction and objective: An outbreak of Serratia marcescens infections outbreak is described, as well as the epidemiological study that linked the outbreak to the use of 2% aqueous chlorhexidine antiseptic.

Method: In late November 2014 an increasing incidence of S. marcescens isolates was detected in patients treated in the emergency department. It was considered a possible outbreak, and an epidemiological investigation was started.

Result: S. marcescens was isolated in 23 samples from 16 patients and in all new bottles of two lots of 2% aqueous chlorhexidine. The contaminated disinfectant was withdrawn, and the Spanish Drugs Agency was alerted (COS 2/2014). The epidemiological study showed that strains isolated from clinical samples and from chlorhexidine belonged to the same clone. No further isolates were obtained once the disinfectant was withdrawn.

Conclusion: The suspicion of an outbreak and the epidemiological study were essential to control the incidence.

Keywords: Aqueous chlorhexidine; Brote; Clorhexidina acuosa; Epidemiological research; Investigación epidemiológica; Outbreak; Serratia marcescens.