Related Experiment Videos
Persistent isolation of an unusual Pseudomonas species from a phenolic disinfectant system
Abstract:
A well-characterized unusual Pseudomonas species contaminated the piped disinfectant system of a newly-opened laminar air flow intensive care facility. This organism was frequently isolated (10(4)-10(6) cfu/ml) from phenolic diluted 1:256 in the system, and could also be recovered (0.01-0.2 cfu/ml) from undiluted phenolic. During the 20-month period when this unusual Pseudomonas was present, none of the severely compromised, granulocytopenic oncology patients treated in the intensive care facility were either colonized or infected with this Pseudomonas sp. Eradication of the organism from the system proved difficult and was accomplished by removing a contaminated reservoir of diluted phenolic disinfectant followed by transient cleansing of the system with very high concentrations (84,000 ppm) of chlorine. This experience demonstrates that phenolics should be added to the list of disinfectants which can harbor Pseudomonas spp. in the clinical setting.
Insights
Phenolic disinfectants can harbor Pseudomonas species, posing a risk in clinical settings. Despite contamination, intensive care patients remained unaffected during a 20-month Pseudomonas outbreak.
Area of Science:
- Clinical Microbiology
- Infection Control
- Environmental Hygiene
Background:
- A laminar air flow intensive care facility experienced contamination of its piped disinfectant system.
- The contaminant was identified as an unusual Pseudomonas species.
- The organism persisted in diluted and undiluted phenolic disinfectant solutions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To characterize the Pseudomonas contamination in a clinical disinfectant system.
- To assess the risk to immunocompromised patients during the contamination period.
- To determine effective methods for eradicating the Pseudomonas species.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and quantification of Pseudomonas species from the disinfectant system.
- Monitoring of patient colonization and infection over a 20-month period.
- Implementation of eradication strategies involving removal of contaminated reservoirs and high-concentration chlorine cleansing.
Main Results:
- Pseudomonas species were frequently isolated from phenolic disinfectant at concentrations up to 10(6) cfu/ml.
- No oncology patients (severely compromised, granulocytopenic) were colonized or infected by this Pseudomonas species.
- Eradication was achieved by removing contaminated phenolic disinfectant and using high-concentration chlorine.
Conclusions:
- Phenolic disinfectants can serve as a reservoir for Pseudomonas species in clinical environments.
- Despite system contamination, patient infections were not observed in this case.
- Effective eradication requires addressing contaminated sources and employing potent disinfectants like chlorine.