Again germ outbreak at Berliner Charité

Resistant germ infects patients in the intensive care unit

27/02/2013

Again, the Berlin University Hospital Charité in the headlines: Again, an outbreak of dangerous bacteria to complain that have antibiotic resistance. A patient has already died from the consequences of the infection.

Germ infects patients in the intensive care unit
The largest university hospital in Europe is again due to a germ outbreak in the negative headlines. Bacteriologists of the renowned clinic report an outbreak of Klebsiella pneumoniae (KPC-3). The bacterium has now spread to six out of eight patients in a highly-sanitary intensive care unit. When the pathogen is it according to clinical information to the frequently occurring „Carbapenemase-forming Klebsiella pneumoniae strain in Germany“.

As a result of the infection, one patient has died as yet. Another three patients who have been transferred to the specialized hospital from other hospitals due to lung or mulitis organ failure are also infected. Two patients were populated at best. Two patients also cared for in the ward were not infected. According to the clinic „they are now being provided separately from the other patients.“

It was not until 2012 that five patients had been infected with the same bacterium over four months. It was „most likely that it is the same strain“, explained the presiding hygienist, Professor Petra Gastmeyer, of the Ärztezeitung.

Expert team investigates backgrounds of the germ case
An internal and an external team of experts now investigate how the resistant germ could survive or how the bacteria could get back into the highly sensitive station. A final assessment can only be made by the findings of the National Reference Center in Bochum. When this is created is still unclear.

An internal and an external outbreak team investigate how the germ survived or otherwise came to the station. Final clarification is to bring the findings of the National Reference Center in Bochum.

Resistant germs in the future a European problem
The medical director of the clinic, Professor Ulrich Frei, emphasized that „the outbreak is taken with this germ especially seriously“. However, Frei also referred to the increasing prevalence of resistant bacteria and limited therapeutic options. The only option of therapy is the administration of the antibiotic colistin. Klebsiella pneumoniae will, in the near future, confront all hospitals in Europe with major challenges, according to the director of the clinic. "We have to be prepared for the fact that more and more carbapenem-resistant bacteria will appear in Europe's hospitals over the next few years," emphasized Gastmeyer. The aggravating problem is that the „Research pipeline is empty“. (Sb)

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Image: Sebastian Karkus