A NOSOCOMIAL OUTBREAK OF MALARIA ASSOCIATED WITH CONTAMINATED CATHETERS AND CONTRAST MEDIUM OF A COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC SCANNER
Resource
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY v.20 n.1 pp.22-25
Journal
INFECTION CONTROL AND HOSPITAL EPIDEMIOLOGY
Journal Volume
v.20
Journal Issue
n.1
Pages
22-25
Date Issued
1999
Date
1999
Author(s)
Chen, Kow-Tong
Chen, Chein-Jen
Chang, Po-Ya
Morse, Dale L.
Abstract
OBTECTIVE: To identify the risk factors associated with an
unexpected outbreak of malaria that occurred among seven
patients in a general teaching hospital in Taipei in October
1995. DESIGN: A three-stage case-control study was
conducted to identify risk factors. PATIENTS: We identified
all 7 patients who were diagnosed as malaria cases and 69
controls from those undergoing computed tomography (CT)
examination. METHODS: Malaria was diagnosed by demonstrating
the presence of Plasmodium falciparum on either thick or
thin blood smears. Clinical characteristics and exposure
information were collected from medical records and patient
interviews. RESULTS: The index case was infected by malaria
when he visited Nigeria in early September and was diagnosed
when he was hospitalized in hospital A in October. Among 10
patients examined with the Imatron scanner after the index
case, all 6 who were injected with contrast medium were
infected, but none of 4 examined without contrast medium
were infected (P=.005). CONCLUSIONS: This nosocomial
outbreak of malaria was most likely due to transmission via
a contaminated catheter and contrast medium used for CT
scanning. Use of disposable catheters may avoid such
nosocomial outbreaks in the future.
Subjects
PLASMODIUM-FALCIPARUM MALARIA
SEVERITY
SDGs
Type
journal article