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Related Experiment Videos

Tracking laboratory contamination by using a Bacillus cereus pseudoepidemic as an example.

R M Morrell1, B L Wasilauskas

  • 1Department of Pathology, Bowman Gray School of Medicine of Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27103.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|June 11, 1992
PubMed
Summary

Bacillus cereus pseudoepidemic was identified as a culture contamination issue. Sterilizing a contaminated water bath resolved the contamination, returning recovery rates to normal.

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Area of Science:

  • Clinical Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Bacillus cereus is rarely a pathogen, making its increased recovery rate suspicious.
  • Baseline rates indicated a deviation from normal prevalence.

Purpose of the Study:

  • Investigate a pseudoepidemic of Bacillus cereus.
  • Identify the source of culture contamination.
  • Outline a systematic approach to clinical laboratory epidemiology.

Main Methods:

  • Monitoring recovery rates of Bacillus cereus from blood and body fluid cultures.
  • Implementing generalized and specific contamination control measures.
  • Conducting environmental cultures and epidemiological analysis.
  • Sterilizing contaminated equipment.

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Main Results:

  • Bacillus cereus was recovered from 0.49% of blood cultures and 2.02% of other body fluid cultures during the study period.
  • Generalized precautions initially reduced recovery rates.
  • Specific identification and sterilization of a contaminated water bath led to the return of normal recovery rates.

Conclusions:

  • The increased recovery of Bacillus cereus was due to culture contamination, not a true increase in infection.
  • A systematic approach to clinical laboratory epidemiology is crucial for identifying and resolving contamination events.
  • Environmental monitoring and targeted interventions are effective in controlling pseudoepidemics.