Pressure transducers : an overlooked source of sepsis in the intensive care unit

Between January 1988 and May 1989 twenty cases of bacteremia due to Flavobacterium sp. occurred in 17 patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit. Epidemiologic studies disclosed that the source of the Flavobacterium bacteremias was contaminated reusable pressure transducers. Despite the use...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Intensive care medicine 1990-01, Vol.16 (8), p.511-512
Main Authors: HEKKER, T. A. M, VAN OVERHAGEN, W, SCHNEIDER, A. J
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Bacterial diseases
Bacterial sepsis
Biological and medical sciences
Cross Infection - etiology
Cross Infection - prevention & control
Disease Outbreaks
Disinfection
Disposable Equipment
Equipment Contamination
Flavobacterium - isolation & purification
Human bacterial diseases
Humans
Infectious diseases
Intensive Care Units
Medical sciences
Sepsis - etiology
Sepsis - prevention & control
Staphylococcal infections, streptococcal infections, pneumococcal infections
Transducers, Pressure
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Summary:Between January 1988 and May 1989 twenty cases of bacteremia due to Flavobacterium sp. occurred in 17 patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit. Epidemiologic studies disclosed that the source of the Flavobacterium bacteremias was contaminated reusable pressure transducers. Despite the use of disposable domes spread of the bacteria from the contaminated transducer heads to the fluids given to the patients occurred. An indirect contamination by hands at the time the equipment was initially assembled must have been the mode of transmission. Reinstitution of routine disinfection of the transducer heads controlled the outbreak. Disposable domes failed to prevent septicemia from contaminated pressure transducers.
ISSN:0342-4642
1432-1238
DOI:10.1007/BF01709402