A recurrent and transesophageal echocardiography-associated outbreak of extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing complex in cardiac surgery patients.

Background: We report a recurrent outbreak of postoperative infections with extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing complex in cardiac surgery patients, describe the outbreak investigation and highlight the infection control measures.

Methods: Cases were defined as cardiac surgery patients in Ghent University Hospital who were not known preoperatively to carry ESBL-producing complex and who postoperatively had a positive culture for this multiresistant organism between May 2017 and January 2018. An epidemiological investigation, including a case-control study, and environmental investigation were conducted to identify the source of the outbreak.