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

• 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
• ISSN: 0195-6701; 1532-2939
• DOI: 10.1053/jhin.1999.0648

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.