Review on infection control strategies to minimize outbreaks of the emerging pathogen Elizabethkingia anophelis

BACKGROUND: Elizabethkingia anophelis is a multi-drug resistant emerging opportunistic pathogen with a high mortality rate, causing healthcare-associated outbreaks worldwide. METHODS: We report a case of E. anophelis pleuritis, resulting from transmission through lung transplantation, followed by a literature review of outbreak reports and strategies to minimize E. anophelis transmission in healthcare settings. RESULTS: From 1990 to August 2022, 14 confirmed E. anophelis outbreak cohorts and 21 cohorts with suspected E. anophelis outbreaks were reported in literature. A total of 80 scientific reports with recommendations on diagnostics and infection control measures were included and summarized in our study. CONCLUSION: Strategies to prevent and reduce spread of E. anophelis include water-free patient rooms, adequate hygiene and disinfection practices, and optimized diagnostic techniques for screening, identification and molecular typing. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13756-023-01304-1.