Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

Pillows, an unexpected source of Acinetobacter

A Weernink1, W P Severin, I Tjernberg

  • 1Department of Hospital Hygiene, Regional Hospital Midden Twente, Hengelo, The Netherlands.

The Journal of Hospital Infection
|March 1, 1995
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by
Same author

International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes. Minutes of the meetings, 7, 8 and 9 July 2017, Valencia, Spain.

International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology·2018
Same author

The recomBead Borrelia antibody index, CXCL13 and total IgM index for laboratory diagnosis of Lyme neuroborreliosis in children.

European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology·2017
Same author

MALDI-TOF/MS identification of species from the Acinetobacter baumannii (Ab) group revisited: inclusion of the novel A. seifertii and A. dijkshoorniae species.

Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases·2016
Same author

Human isolates of Listeria monocytogenes in Sweden during half a century (1958-2010).

Epidemiology and infection·2014
Same author

Laboratory diagnosis of Lyme neuroborreliosis: a comparison of three CSF anti-Borrelia antibody assays.

European journal of clinical microbiology & infectious diseases : official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology·2013
Same author

Characterization of a novel international clonal complex (CC32) of Acinetobacter baumannii with epidemic potential.

Epidemiology and infection·2013
Same journal

Status of Hand Hygiene Implementation Using Multimodal Strategy in Public Hospitals of Ethiopia: A Multi-Center Study.

The Journal of hospital infection·2026
Same journal

Diagnostic Stewardship for optimizing blood culture practices: A Systematic Review of clinical practice guidelines and evidence-based recommendations.

The Journal of hospital infection·2026
Same journal

Identification of risk factors for hospital-onset bacteremia to inform a routine data based risk prediction - an umbrella review.

The Journal of hospital infection·2026
Same journal

Healthcare-associated Infections in the Middle East: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Point-Prevalence Studies.

The Journal of hospital infection·2026
Same journal

Expression of concern: Postoperative serum amyloid A as a primary marker in a predictive model for ventilator-associated pneumonia in elderly patients with acute ischaemic stroke undergoing endovascular therapy with general anaesthesia [Journal of Hospital Infection, pre-proof, available online 8 July 2025].

The Journal of hospital infection·2026
Same journal

Past lessons for the 2026 Bundibugyo virus outbreak: filovirus infection prevention in conflict-affected settings.

The Journal of hospital infection·2026
See all related articles

Feather pillows were identified as the source of an Acinetobacter outbreak in a Dutch hospital. Replacing them and improving laundry significantly reduced Acinetobacter infections, highlighting pillow hygiene importance.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Hospital Epidemiology
  • Infection Control

Background:

  • An increase in Acinetobacter isolations was observed in a Dutch community hospital between 1989 and 1992.
  • The widespread distribution of Acinetobacter suggested a common source within the hospital environment.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the source of the Acinetobacter outbreak.
  • To determine the role of environmental factors, specifically feather pillows, in the increased isolations.

Main Methods:

  • Environmental sampling, focusing on feather pillows.
  • Microbiological identification and typing of Acinetobacter isolates from patients and pillows (biotyping, antibiogram, cell envelope protein typing, DNA-DNA hybridization).
  • Intervention study involving replacement of feather pillows and modification of laundry procedures.

Related Experiment Videos

Main Results:

  • Feather pillows were found to harbor high numbers of Acinetobacter.
  • Microbiological typing (including DNA-DNA hybridization) indicated that patient and pillow isolates were often indistinguishable, identifying species like A. baumannii and A. radioresistens.
  • Replacement of feather pillows and laundry correction led to a significant reduction in Acinetobacter isolations.

Conclusions:

  • Feather pillows were a significant reservoir and likely the source of the Acinetobacter outbreak.
  • Environmental hygiene, particularly concerning bedding, is crucial for controlling Acinetobacter infections in healthcare settings.