Health officials in Norway have tracked a bacterial outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa to a pack of wet wipes.
Since November 2020, more than 200 people across 33 hospitals in Norway have fallen prey to a bacterial infection outbreak. However, for several months, health officials have wondered about the source of the infection. In a recent press release, the Norwegian Institute of Public Health (NIPH) tracked the outbreak to a packet of pre-moistened disposable washcloths from the manufacturer Vernacare in England. Health officials have detected the causative organism, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, in a further eight wet wipes from the same batch. Researchers now plan to genotype the strains and assess whether they are identical to the bacterial strain that caused the outbreak.
The health trusts have participated in an extensive outbreak investigation where, among other things, mapping of infected patients and examination of products and equipment they have been in contact with, has been a priority.
Dr. Kirsten Gravningen, chief physician at the National Institute of Public Health
P. aeruginosa is a frequent cause of hospital-acquired infections. The gram-negative bacteria are present in water and soil, and even in hospital environments. It commonly infects the blood, lungs, and other parts of the body. Although Pseudomonas infections are treatable with antibiotics, overuse and misuse of antibiotics have led to the emergence of multidrug-resistant strains. Moreover, in healthcare settings such as hospitals and nursing homes, the increasing antibiotic resistance makes it more difficult to treat infections.
Following the discovery, Oslo University Hospital has notified all health trusts to stop using wet wipes from the manufacturer. The wet wipes are generally used in hospitals for patients who are too sick to wash or clean themselves.
So far, health officials have reported a total of 239 cases. However, the numbers may increase further as cases continue to rise.
Source: Norwegian Institute of Public Health
