Newborns admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICU) are at increased risk of health care-associated infections. represent the third most common pathogen in NICU outbreaks. Here we present an outbreak investigation performed using Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) analyses and the control measures implemented to limit the spread of in the NICU of an Italian hospital. In February 2023 was isolated from six newborns, when in 2022 this pathogen was isolated only from two samples in the same ward. Measures for infection prevention were adopted. Routinary surveillance screening, performed with rectal swabs collected at admission and weekly thereafter, was implemented to search for presence. Environmental samples were collected. All the isolates, obtained from the conjunctival swab of six newborns, from rectal swab of two newborns who did not develop infections, as well as from the aerators of two faucets, were sequenced. WGS analyses showed no correlation between the isolates from newborns and environmental isolates. The implementation of the measures for infection prevention and control had enabled us to successfully control the outbreak within a short period. WGS analyses proved to be crucial in outbreak investigation to limit the spreading of the pathogens.

中文翻译：

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全基因组测序对新生儿重症监护室粘质沙雷氏菌传播的影响

入住新生儿重症监护病房 (NICU) 的新生儿发生医疗保健相关感染的风险增加。是 NICU 疫情中第三种最常见的病原体。在这里，我们介绍了使用全基因组测序 (WGS) 分析进行的疫情调查以及为限制意大利医院新生儿重症监护病房传播而实施的控制措施。 2023 年 2 月，从 6 名新生儿中分离出这种病原体，而到 2022 年，仅从同一病房的两个样本中分离出这种病原体。采取了感染预防措施。使用入院时和此后每周收集的直肠拭子进行常规监测筛查，以寻找存在。收集了环境样本。所有从六名新生儿的结膜拭子、两名未发生感染的新生儿的直肠拭子以及两个水龙头的通气器中获得的分离株都进行了测序。全基因组测序分析显示新生儿分离株与环境分离株之间没有相关性。感染防控措施的落实，使我们在短时间内成功控制了疫情。事实证明，全基因组测序分析对于疫情调查、限制病原体传播至关重要。