Aerators as a reservoir of Acinetobacter junii: an outbreak of bacteraemia in paediatric oncology patients

Tap water can play a role as a source of nosocomial pathogens, and faucet aerators have occasionally been mentioned in the literature associated with colonization or infection in hospitalized patients. In this study, we report on outbreak of bacteraemia in paediatric oncology patients caused by Acin...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:The Journal of hospital infection 2000-01, Vol.44 (1), p.27-30
Main Authors: Kappstein, I., Grundmann, H., Hauer, T., Niemeyer, C.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acinetobacter - isolation & purification
Acinetobacter Infections - epidemiology
Acinetobacter Infections - etiology
Acinetobacter Infections - microbiology
Acinetobacter junii
aerators
bacteraemia
Bacteremia - epidemiology
Bacteremia - etiology
Bacteremia - microbiology
Bacterial diseases
Bacterial sepsis
Biological and medical sciences
Child, Preschool
Cross Infection - epidemiology
Cross Infection - etiology
Cross Infection - microbiology
Disease Outbreaks
Disease Reservoirs
Equipment Contamination
Faucet aerators
Human bacterial diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Medical sciences
Neoplasms - complications
Neoplasms - microbiology
outbreak
Sanitary Engineering - instrumentation
water contamination
Water Microbiology
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Summary:Tap water can play a role as a source of nosocomial pathogens, and faucet aerators have occasionally been mentioned in the literature associated with colonization or infection in hospitalized patients. In this study, we report on outbreak of bacteraemia in paediatric oncology patients caused by Acinetobacter junii. Environmental sampling showed the water system to be contaminated with A. junii. Molecular typing using automatic laser fluorescence analysis of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD-ALFA) revealed two distinct strains. The outbreak strain, isolated from blood cultures of the affected children, was only found in the water taps of staff rooms. Aerators were commonly found to be contaminated, and more so than water obtained after removal of these devices. We believe that conventional aerators consisting of several wire meshes can serve as a reservoir for low levels of bacteria present in the water system. We recommend, especially for high-risk areas, either that aerators should not be used, or the use of aerators consisting of radially and vertically arranged lamellae, which do not lead to the collection of sediment or water stagnation, and to clean them regularly.
ISSN:0195-6701
1532-2939
DOI:10.1053/jhin.1999.0648