Successful control of an outbreak of colonization by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae sequence type 258 in a neonatal intensive care unit, Italy

SummaryThis article reports an outbreak of colonization by Klebsiella pneumoniae carbapenemase-producing K. pneumoniae (KPC-Kp) sequence type (ST) 258 in a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) in Palermo, Italy. KPC-Kp ST258 was detected by an active surveillance culture programme. Between 18th September and 14th November 2012, KPC-Kp was isolated from 10 out of 54 neonates admitted in the outbreak period. No cases of infection were recorded. Male sex was associated with colonization, whereas administration of ampicillin– sulbactam plus gentamicin was protective. Infection control interventions interrupted the spread of KPC-Kp without the need to close the NICU to new admissions.