[Report of four clinical cases of Hafnia alvei bacteremia in a pediatric cardiac surgery unit].

INTRODUCTION

The gram-negative bacillus Hafnia alvei is the only species of the genus Hafnia, family Enterobacteriaceae. It occasionally behaves as an opportunistic pathogen in humans, causing intestinal and respiratory infection and sepsis. It rarely causes bacteremia, usually of unknown focus.

OBJECTIVE

To describe a nosocomial outbreak of four pediatric patients with bacteremia by Hafnia alvei.

METHODS

Descriptive study using clinical records of pediatric patients diagnosed with Hafnia alvei bacteremia in a pediatric cardio surgical unit, in October 2008.

RESULTS

The attack rate was 4/8 (50%), lethality rate 2/4 (50%) and mortality 2/8 (25%). The microbiological study and pulsed-field gel electrophoresis confirmed the same clonal bacterial strain.

DISCUSSION

The source of bacteremia was identified only in two patients and was associated with central venous catheters. The other two cases had no known infectious source. Epidemiological surveillance of emerging agents must be maintained.