2455. Outbreak of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae in cardiology units associated with contaminated water dispenser and sink drain in Korea

BACKGROUND: There is a growing concern about the importance of hospital water environment for the transmission of carbapenemase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (CPE). Herein, we report a large outbreak in cardiology units involving intensive care units (ICU) and wards at a tertiary care hospital. METHODS: During a CPE outbreak between July and December 2018, contact tracing and environmental sampling were performed. For outbreak control, we performed education to healthcare workers, hand hygiene enforcement, active surveillance test, preemptive isolation, chlorhexidine bathing for CPE positive patients, and deep terminal cleaning including UV and hydrogen peroxide non-touch disinfection. Patients with CPE were isolated at a single room with dedicated staffs, contact precaution was implemented, and when case patients were located in multi-patient room, we performed surveillance culture for exposed patients in the room. RESULTS: A total of 87 patients with CPE infection or colonization were identified at two cardiology ICUs and three cardiology wards. CPE from the first two index patients were identified from sputum culture suspecting pneumonia, and the remaining 85 patients were identified to harbor CPE through surveillance culture (exposed patients n = 22, active surveillance test n = 63). Diverse organisms were identified; organisms with blakpc (n = 13), blaNDM-1 (n = 55), blaVIM or blaIMP (n = 12), blaOXA-48 (n = 3), and co-producing organisms (n = 4). We performed environmental culture; KPC-producing Escherichia coli was isolated from water dispenser in ICU and NDM-1 producing Citrobacter freundii and Enterobacter cloacae were isolated from sinks in the patient room. Outbreak ended after the removal of water dispenser and the replacement of sink drain with pouring bleach to the sink drain. CONCLUSION: Water dispenser and sink drain were suspected for the possible reservoirs of CPE in this outbreak. Replacement of plumbing system and use of bleach for pouring to sink as well as the removal of water dispenser was needed to control outbreak. Investigation of water system is warranted for finding the source of CPE. [Image: see text] [Image: see text] [Image: see text] [Image: see text] DISCLOSURES: All authors: No reported disclosures.