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. 1993 Nov;31(11):3017–3022. doi: 10.1128/jcm.31.11.3017-3022.1993

Epidemic of Pseudomonas cepacia in an adult cystic fibrosis unit: evidence of person-to-person transmission.

D L Smith 1, L B Gumery 1, E G Smith 1, D E Stableforth 1, M E Kaufmann 1, T L Pitt 1
PMCID: PMC266193  PMID: 7505294

Abstract

An epidemic of Pseudomonas cepacia occurred in an adult cystic fibrosis center in the United Kingdom, despite a policy of segregation of infected and noninfected patients within the hospital. Investigation of the outbreak by ribotyping and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis to characterize P. cepacia strain genomes together with inquiry into social contacts between patients revealed evidence of person-to-person transmission outside the hospital environment. Segregation policies aimed at reducing the spread of this infection in the cystic fibrosis community need to encompass patient contacts outside the hospital environment.

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Selected References

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