Isolation of Mycobacterium chelonae in a bronchoscopy unit and its subsequent eradication

Contamination events with Mycobacterium chelonae in 7 patients undergoing bronchoscopy, out of a total of 100 patients in a 5-month period, were analysed.

To identify and assess the importance of factors thought to be relevant in the aetiology of these contamination events and by removing these factors, to eradicate the problem of continuing M. chelonae contamination.

A retrospective analysis of the frequency of M. chelonae isolates from bronchoalveolar fluid, assessing the contribution of the following measures to the eradication of M. chelonae: (1) changes to the bronchoscopy unit's water supply; (2) insertion of bacterial filters; (3) installation of a new semi-automated cleaning machine incorporating an ultrasound cycle; (4) staff training in correct use of the new equipment.

Following the discontinuation of using tapwater in the cleaning process, the above changes resulted in complete eradication of contamination events, with no further events occurring in the following 12 months.

Insertion of bacterial filters into the water supply, with the addition of a more sophisticated semi-automatic cleaning machine involving an ultrasound cycle in addition to conventional cleaning methods currently used, will help reduce or eradicate contamination events with M. chelonae in bronchoscopy units.