Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 22, 2026
An Automated Culture System for Use in Preclinical Testing of Host-Directed Therapies for Tuberculosis
Published on: August 16, 2021
Decontamination of heater-cooler units associated with contamination by atypical mycobacteria
M I Garvey1, R Ashford1, C W Bradley1
1University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
Background:
Non-tuberculosis mycobacteria such as Mycobacterium chimaera are found widely in hospital water systems. Invasive M. chimaera infections have recently been attributed to heater-cooler units (HCUs) of cardiopulmonary bypass equipment.
Aim:
To assess the extent of microbiological contamination within the HCUs and to inform decontamination strategies for reducing the microbial load.
Methods:
Water samples taken from HCUs used at University Hospitals Birmingham for cardiopulmonary bypass surgery were sampled to determine the number of micro-organisms by membrane filtration. Various decontamination processes were used throughout the study, all based on the manufacturer's guidance.
Findings:
Total viable counts >300cfu per 100mL containing a wide variety of micro-organisms were obtained from water inside the HCUs. Working with the manufacturers, we significantly reduced the microbial load of the water within the HCUs by removing the internal tubing soiled with biofilm followed by a weekly decontamination regimen with peracetic acid.
Conclusion:
A decontamination cycle including an initial replacement of internal tubing with weekly microbiological water samples is required to maintain the water quality within HCUs at an acceptable level.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
01:28Pulmonary Tuberculosis V
Latent tuberculosis infection occurs when TB bacteria are present in a person's body, but are not causing illness or symptoms. It is not contagious, and preventive treatment is crucial to avoid the...
01:29Methods of Sterilization I: Physical Methods
Steam sterilization uses non-toxic, low-cost moist heat in the form of saturated steam under pressure, which is fast, microbicidal, and sporicidal, and quickly warms and penetrates fabrics. Autoclaves, or steam sterilizers, expose each item to direct steam contact for a predetermined time at the necessary...
01:26Pulmonary Tuberculosis IV
Several diagnostic approaches are used to detect TB. The conventional method is the Tuberculin Skin Test (TST), also known as the Mantoux test. However, this method has...
01:30Methods of Sterilization II: Chemical Methods
Using chemical sterilization rather than heat to clean out equipment is recommended. It eradicates and removes all bacteria,...
01:23Physical Methods for Controlling Microbial Growth: Temperature
01:30Cleaning, Sterilization, and Disinfection
Cleaning
The cleaning process usually involves using water with detergents or enzymatic cleaner and removing foreign material from objects and surfaces, including organic material such as body fluids or inorganic material like soil. Cleaning is performed before high-level disinfection and sterilization because foreign materials on the cover of the devices interfere with process...