Moore, LSPLSPMooreOwens, DSDSOwensJepson, AAJepsonTurton, JFJFTurtonAshworth, SSAshworthDonaldson, HHDonaldsonHolmes, AHAHHolmes2016-05-092016-01-012016-05-092016-01-01Emerging Infectious Diseases, 2016, 22 (1), pp.9-171080-6059http://hdl.handle.net/10044/1/32266Elizabethkingia meningoseptica is an infrequent colonizer of the respiratory tract; its pathogenicity is uncertain. In the context of a 22-month outbreak of E. meningoseptica acquisition affecting 30 patients in a London, UK, critical care unit (3% attack rate) we derived a measure of attributable morbidity and determined whether E. meningoseptica is an emerging nosocomial pathogen. We found monomicrobial E. meningoseptica acquisition (n = 13) to have an attributable morbidity rate of 54% (systemic inflammatory response syndrome >2, rising C-reactive protein, new radiographic changes), suggesting that E. meningoseptica is a pathogen. Epidemiologic and molecular evidence showed acquisition was water-source–associated in critical care but identified numerous other E. meningoseptica strains, indicating more widespread distribution than previously considered. Analysis of changes in gram-negative speciation rates across a wider London hospital network suggests this outbreak, and possibly other recently reported outbreaks, might reflect improved diagnostics and that E. meningoseptica thus is a pseudo-emerging pathogen.Emerging Infectious Diseases is published by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a U.S. Government agency. Therefore, all materials published in Emerging Infectious Diseases are in the public domain and can be used without permission. Proper citation, however, is required.Science & TechnologyLife Sciences & BiomedicineImmunologyInfectious DiseasesDESORPTION IONIZATION-TIMEFLIGHT MASS-SPECTROMETRYCHRYSEOBACTERIUM-MENINGOSEPTICUMEMERGING PATHOGENIDENTIFICATIONBACTEREMIAOUTBREAKEPIDEMIOLOGYINFECTIONSDIVERSITYChryseobacterium meningosepticumElizabethkingia meningosepticaFlavobacterium meningosepticumMatrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flightUnited Kingdomadultsantimicrobial drug resistanceintensive carewaterMicrobiology1108 Medical Microbiology1117 Public Health And Health Services1103 Clinical SciencesJournal Articlehttps://www.dx.doi.org/10.3201/eid2201.150139RDA02WMNF_P46472