A team of federal, state and local investigators are looking for the source of a bacterial bloodstream infection linked to 18 deaths in Wisconsin.
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The bacteria is named after American bacteriologist Elizabeth King, who discovered it in 1959. DPH then alerted health care providers, infection preventionists, and laboratories statewide of the presence of the Elizabethkingia bacteria, and provided information as well as treatment guidance, which has led to a rapid identification of cases, and appropriate treatment, she said.
“What does their lives look like that could give us a clue as to where they came in contact with the bacteria?”
Elizabethkingia bacteria has infected 44 people in the state.
“If at all possible, we talk to the patient themselves”, she said.
The illness typically affects people with compromised immune systems or serious underlying health conditions, so it has not been determined if the cause of those deaths was the bacterial infection, underlying conditions, or both.
Dr. Safdar says the symptoms of Elizabethkingia include a fever.
The number of people known to be infected is expected to rise as more cases are identified and confirmed. All of the affected individuals have at least one underlying serious illness.
It said early detection and treatment with an effective antibiotic regimen is important to increase the probability of good outcomes.
DPH was first notified of six potential cases between December 29, 2015 and January 4, 2016 and set up statewide surveillance on January 5, 2016.
The bacteria is called Elizabethkingia, and the Department of Health Serivces says all of the cases are concentrated in southern Wisconsin.
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A variety of potential sources, including healthcare products, water sources and the environment, was being tested, the CDC said, but none of these have been found to be a source of the bacteria.
