High prevalence of ESBL-positive bacteria in an obstetrics emergency hospital and neonatal care unit—Haiti, 2016

Abstract

Patient colonization with extended-spectrum β-lactamase–producing gram-negative bacteria (ESBL-GNB) could serve as a potential reservoir for transmission of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria in a hospital setting. Individuals colonized with ESBLEnterobacteriaceae are also known to be at a higher risk of ESBLGNB infection following their colonization.1 We encountered an outbreak of MDR Klebsiella pneumoniae in the neonatal care unit (NCU) of the Médecins Sans Frontiéres (MSF) obstetric emergency hospital in Port au Prince (CRUO), Haiti, between 2014 and 2015.2 As part of ongoing surveillance activities for MDR bacteria and in an effort to better target infection, prevention, and control (IPC) measures throughout the hospital, we conducted a point-prevalence survey to estimate the prevalence of colonization with ESBL-GNB and to identify risk factors for colonization with ESBL-GNB in women and neonates admitted to this hospital.