Serratia marcescens bacteremia from contaminated pressure transducers

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Medical Devices
• Hospital Epidemiology

Background:

• Primary Serratia marcescens bacteremia outbreaks occurred in an intensive care unit (ICU).
• The outbreaks were associated with the use of pressure monitoring devices.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the source and transmission of Serratia marcescens in ICU patients.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of glutaraldehyde disinfection in controlling the outbreak.

Main Methods:

• Culturing of transducer heads and pressure monitoring lines.
• Experimental transmission studies via direct inoculation of open ports.
• Prospective culturing of 110 pressure monitoring lines.

Main Results:

• All transducer heads tested were contaminated with S marcescens.
• A 24% contamination rate of pressure monitoring lines with S marcescens was found.
• Hand contamination during assembly and direct inoculation of open ports were identified as transmission routes.

Conclusions:

• Pressure monitoring devices are a significant source of S marcescens transmission in ICUs.
• Routine disinfection of transducer heads with glutaraldehyde is effective in decontaminating devices.
• Glutaraldehyde disinfection successfully controlled the S marcescens outbreak.