[The danger of infection in inhalation rooms]

There are alarming reports about high counts of Legionella and Pseudomonas in the aerosol of inhalation-rooms. We therefore investigated 14 institutions (6 kurhauses, 5 hospitals and 3 sanatoria for children) in Schleswig-Holstein, each of them at least five-fold. For that purpose the inhalant (seawater as a rule) was investigated for the total bacterial number and the number of Legionella. Cfu/m3 air were determined at the aerosol outlet and a qualitative search for Legionella was done in the piping. In addition bacterial numbers in the air at the breathing-levels of patients were measured in order to be able to assess health hazards by germs of other patients. Detected bacterial numbers (10(1) - > 10(4)) were basically subject to the handling of the equipment and the type of apparatus used. Predominantly Staphylococci and Bacilli were found and above all when the first row of investigations was carried out large numbers of Pseudomonas, Aeromonas and others occurred. Legionella could not be detected. As a whole the investigations showed that properly maintained room-inhalators pose no higher risk of infection. These facilities, however, might be contaminated at any time and there is a certain--even though comparatively low--risk of infection due to germs exhaled by other patients. Patients, which are predisposed to infections of the respiratory tract--f.i. patients suffering from mucoviscidosis or patients with lowered resistance--should therefore generally use single inhalators.