Sepsis outbreak following a probable extrinsic contamination of propofol by <i>Escherichia coli</i>, Geneva, 2024

Article Article scientifique Article Sepsis outbreak following a probable extrinsic contamination of propofol by <i>Escherichia coli</i>, Geneva, 2024 eng 2025-12-24 2025-12-24 author Petrucci Roberta Cantonal Physician's Office, Cantonal Health Department, Geneva, Switzerland. roberta.petrucci@etat.ge.ch. 402514 author Allaoua Amir Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Acute Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 823627 author Metsini Aliki Cantonal Physician's Office, Cantonal Health Department, Geneva, Switzerland. 921003 author Cherkaoui Abdessalam Bacteriology Laboratory, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Diagnostics, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 504646 Département de médecine (DEMED) author Vu Cantero Diem-Lan Cantonal Physician's Office, Cantonal Health Department, Geneva, Switzerland.,Paediatric Infectious Diseases Unit, Children's Hospital, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 527382 author Lazarevic Vladimir 0000-0002-6839-2536 Genomic Research Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland. 684594 Département de médecine (DEMED) author Perreard Delphine Infection Control Program, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland. author Haroutunian Nechan Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Acute Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 657901 author Garcin Sophie Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Acute Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 530151 author Grosgurin Olivier Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Acute Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 503200 Département de médecine (DEMED) author Vernaz-Hegi Nathalie Cantonal Pharmacist's Office, Cantonal Health Department, Geneva, Switzerland.,Division of Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 35221 Département d'anesthésiologie, pharmacologie et soins intensifs (APSIC) author Harbarth Stéphan Juergen 0000-0002-3551-1025 Infection Control Program, Geneva University Hospitals and Faculty of Medicine, Geneva, Switzerland. 93885 Département de médecine (DEMED) author Regard Simon Cantonal Physician's Office, Cantonal Health Department, Geneva, Switzerland.,Division of Emergency Medicine, Department of Acute Care Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 558033 author Schrenzel Jacques Bacteriology Laboratory, Division of Laboratory Medicine, Department of Diagnostics, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland. 29184 Département de médecine (DEMED) author Cassini Alessandro Cantonal Physician's Office, Cantonal Health Department, Geneva, Switzerland. 151 10.1186/s13756-025-01655-x 41444671 2047-2994 PMC12729812 https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s13756-025-01655-x Over a 14-day period, four patients developed sepsis within hours of undergoing endoscopic procedures at a gastroenterology outpatient clinic in Geneva (Switzerland), triggering an urgent epidemiological investigation upon notification to authorities. The case clustering raised concerns about a iatrogenic source, prompting a coordinated public health response. This report outlines the investigation led by the Geneva Health Authorities in collaboration with the medical team, emergency care providers, infection prevention specialists, and the bacteriology laboratory at Geneva University Hospitals. A multidisciplinary team, including an epidemiologist, a pharmacist and an infection prevention specialist, conducted an on-site investigation the day after the outbreak was identified, highlighting a probable extrinsic contamination of propofol by Escherichia coli. Humans Propofol / adverse effects Escherichia coli / isolation & purification Disease Outbreaks Escherichia coli Infections / epidemiology Escherichia coli Infections / microbiology Sepsis / epidemiology Sepsis / microbiology Male Female Switzerland / epidemiology Middle Aged Drug Contamination Aged Dewey 616 Dewey 617 Dewey 618 Dewey 576.5 56 Département de médecine 221 63 Département d'anesthésiologie, pharmacologie, soins intensifs et urgences 229 58 Département de pédiatrie, gynécologie et obstétrique 223 135 Département de médecine génétique et développement 21D false 526 Résistance aux antibiotiques 866 338 Génomique et microbiote 604 Antimicrobial resistance and infection control 14 1 f1ebd1d8-b607-42e8-b754-32aff411c2b6 Article (Published version) Public Article_scientifique_from_unpaywall.pdf 775574 application/pdf CC BY-4.0 fafcc956514240757a86491b77bcd6a3c8e2785a2c1c03ff3a092b24291791f9 992be7a2-e2d5-4e96-9bd6-2f39fab65213 Appendix Public 13756_2025_1655_MOESM1_ESM.docx 20133 application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document 607db0c984427a0c6b96f8a620f64cdfe5f44a0312549fc37bbced317f4047d5 openAccess Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de médecine Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département d'anesthésiologie, pharmacologie, soins intensifs et urgences Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine clinique / Département de pédiatrie, gynécologie et obstétrique Faculté de médecine / Section de médecine fondamentale / Département de médecine génétique et développement

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Sepsis outbreak following a probable extrinsic contamination of propofol by Escherichia coli, Geneva, 2024	Antimicrobial resistance and infection control			2025	10	76

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