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Related Experiment Videos

Pseudomonas fluorescens pseudobacteraemia: a cautionary lesson.

J Smith1, C Ashhurst-Smith, R Norton

  • 1Department of Paediatrics, Townsville General Hospital, Townsville, Queensland, Australia.

Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health
|March 1, 2002
PubMed
Summary
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A Pseudomonas fluorescens outbreak in children was traced to contaminated blood collection tubes. Improved blood culture techniques and staff education stopped the pseudobacteraemia, preventing unnecessary treatments.

Area of Science:

  • Clinical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Paediatrics

Background:

  • Pseudobacteraemia, often caused by skin contaminants, can lead to unnecessary antibiotic use in children.
  • Identifying the source of pseudobacteraemia is crucial to prevent patient harm and optimize clinical management.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate an outbreak of pseudobacteraemia caused by Pseudomonas fluorescens in a paediatric population.
  • To determine the source of the outbreak and its impact on patient care.
  • To implement measures to control and prevent future occurrences.

Main Methods:

  • A retrospective clinical and microbiological investigation was conducted.
  • Investigated a cluster of 38 pseudobacteraemias over 10 months.
  • Identified contaminated lithium heparin tubes as the source of Pseudomonas fluorescens.

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Main Results:

  • Contaminated lithium heparin tubes, filled before blood culture bottles, were identified as the source.
  • Positive blood cultures led to altered clinical management in 18 paediatric cases.
  • A staff education program was implemented, leading to the cessation of the outbreak.

Conclusions:

  • Pseudobacteraemias are a significant cause of potentially inappropriate therapy in febrile children.
  • Meticulous attention to blood culture collection procedures is essential to minimize contamination.
  • Healthcare staff must be educated on potential contamination sources during blood culture collection.