Background: Antimicrobial resistance in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients is a threat, due to the large use of antimicrobial treatment and invasive devices in fragile babies.
Since 2014 an active surveillance program of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB) carriage is in place in the five NICUs of Palermo, Italy. In 2017 an increase in the prevalence of MDR-GNB and in particular of extended-spectrum β-lactamases-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-KP) was observed in “Civico” hospital NICU.
Aim: To estimate the impact of a coordinated intervention strategy in achieving long-lasting reduction of MDR-GNB prevalence in the NICU.
Methods: Rectal swabs were obtained monthly and processed to detect MDR-GNB using standard methods. MDR-GNB were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). From November 2017 the following intervention measures were applied: a) two-months strengthening of sample collection; b) stakeholders’ meetings; c) improvement of prevention measures and antimicrobial policy.
Prevalence of MDR-GNB carriage observed in the 12 months before and in the 24 months after intervention were compared by chi-square test. Risk factors for MDR-GNB carriage in a subgroup of patients were identified by a multivariate logistic regression model.
Findings: During the strengthened microbiological surveillance MDR-GNB and ESBL-KP were detected in rectal swabs (34.8%; 23.2%), nasal swabs (24.6%; 14.5%), oral swabs (14.5%; 5.4%), milk samples (32.1%; 17.9%), soother swabs (30.8%; 17.9%) and from a sub-intensive room surface. Thirteen ESBL-KP strains isolated from clinical and environmental samples showed identical PFGE patterns. ESBL-KP was detected no more until June 2018. No MDR-GNB isolate was detected for three months.
Prevalence of MDR-GNB and ESBL-KP carriage after intervention significantly decreased compared to the previous year (20.6% vs 62.2 %; p<0.001 and 11.1% vs 57.8%; p<0.001). Multivariate analysis of principal exposure variables showed that admission in post-intervention period significantly reduced the risk of MDR-GNB carriage (OR=0.15, p=0.01).
Conclusions: MDR-GNB broadly circulate in NICU setting and can colonize different body sites and spread by various vehicles. A coordinated strategy of multiple interventions with active cooperation between epidemiologists and clinicians in the NICU can effectively reduce their circulation and in particular the carriage of most dangerous ESBL-KP strains.

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On 20 Jan, 2021
On 18 Jan, 2021
On 18 Jan, 2021
On 18 Jan, 2021
On 27 Dec, 2020
Received 25 Dec, 2020
Received 09 Nov, 2020
On 02 Nov, 2020
Invitations sent on 02 Nov, 2020
On 02 Nov, 2020
On 29 Oct, 2020
On 28 Oct, 2020
On 28 Oct, 2020
Posted 03 Jun, 2020
On 12 Aug, 2020
On 06 Aug, 2020
On 31 Jul, 2020
On 26 Jul, 2020
Received 12 Jul, 2020
Received 12 Jul, 2020
On 29 Jun, 2020
On 19 Jun, 2020
Invitations sent on 19 Jun, 2020
On 16 Jun, 2020
On 15 Jun, 2020
On 29 May, 2020
On 28 May, 2020
On 20 Jan, 2021
On 18 Jan, 2021
On 18 Jan, 2021
On 18 Jan, 2021
On 27 Dec, 2020
Received 25 Dec, 2020
Received 09 Nov, 2020
On 02 Nov, 2020
Invitations sent on 02 Nov, 2020
On 02 Nov, 2020
On 29 Oct, 2020
On 28 Oct, 2020
On 28 Oct, 2020
Posted 03 Jun, 2020
On 12 Aug, 2020
On 06 Aug, 2020
On 31 Jul, 2020
On 26 Jul, 2020
Received 12 Jul, 2020
Received 12 Jul, 2020
On 29 Jun, 2020
On 19 Jun, 2020
Invitations sent on 19 Jun, 2020
On 16 Jun, 2020
On 15 Jun, 2020
On 29 May, 2020
On 28 May, 2020
Background: Antimicrobial resistance in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) patients is a threat, due to the large use of antimicrobial treatment and invasive devices in fragile babies.
Since 2014 an active surveillance program of multidrug-resistant Gram-negative bacteria (MDR-GNB) carriage is in place in the five NICUs of Palermo, Italy. In 2017 an increase in the prevalence of MDR-GNB and in particular of extended-spectrum β-lactamases-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae (ESBL-KP) was observed in “Civico” hospital NICU.
Aim: To estimate the impact of a coordinated intervention strategy in achieving long-lasting reduction of MDR-GNB prevalence in the NICU.
Methods: Rectal swabs were obtained monthly and processed to detect MDR-GNB using standard methods. MDR-GNB were characterized by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). From November 2017 the following intervention measures were applied: a) two-months strengthening of sample collection; b) stakeholders’ meetings; c) improvement of prevention measures and antimicrobial policy.
Prevalence of MDR-GNB carriage observed in the 12 months before and in the 24 months after intervention were compared by chi-square test. Risk factors for MDR-GNB carriage in a subgroup of patients were identified by a multivariate logistic regression model.
Findings: During the strengthened microbiological surveillance MDR-GNB and ESBL-KP were detected in rectal swabs (34.8%; 23.2%), nasal swabs (24.6%; 14.5%), oral swabs (14.5%; 5.4%), milk samples (32.1%; 17.9%), soother swabs (30.8%; 17.9%) and from a sub-intensive room surface. Thirteen ESBL-KP strains isolated from clinical and environmental samples showed identical PFGE patterns. ESBL-KP was detected no more until June 2018. No MDR-GNB isolate was detected for three months.
Prevalence of MDR-GNB and ESBL-KP carriage after intervention significantly decreased compared to the previous year (20.6% vs 62.2 %; p<0.001 and 11.1% vs 57.8%; p<0.001). Multivariate analysis of principal exposure variables showed that admission in post-intervention period significantly reduced the risk of MDR-GNB carriage (OR=0.15, p=0.01).
Conclusions: MDR-GNB broadly circulate in NICU setting and can colonize different body sites and spread by various vehicles. A coordinated strategy of multiple interventions with active cooperation between epidemiologists and clinicians in the NICU can effectively reduce their circulation and in particular the carriage of most dangerous ESBL-KP strains.

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4
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