Outbreak of Elizabethkingia meningoseptica sepsis with meningitis in a well-baby nursery

SummaryBetween March and May 2012, three neonates born at a regional maternity hospital developed Elizabethkingia meningoseptica (previously Chryseobacterium meningosepticum) sepsis with meningitis aged <10 days, and were treated successfully with intravenous ciprofloxacin plus vancomycin or piperacillin-tazobactam for three to six weeks. Four (16.6%) of 24 environmental specimens obtained from the nursery and delivery room were positive for this organism. All of the clinical isolates and two isolates from storage boxes for pacifiers and pacifier covers were genetically identical. After changing the storage boxes to stainless steel boxes that underwent regular autoclave sterilization, there were no further cases of infection with E. meningoseptica.