An outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections associated with flexible bronchoscopes.

Abstract

Background Endoscopes, including bronchoscopes, are the medical devices most frequently associated with outbreaks of nosocomial infections. We investigated an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections after bronchoscopic procedures. Methods Microbiologic results were reviewed to determine the rates of recovery of P. aeruginosa from bronchoalveolar-lavage specimens. Environmental samples from endoscopes and the endoscopy suite were cultured. Medical records were reviewed to identify infections in the 14 days after a bronchoscopy. Results The rate of recovery of P. aeruginosa from bronchoalveolar-lavage specimens obtained with use of endoscopy-suite bronchoscopes increased from 10.4 percent at base line to 31.0 percent during the outbreak (relative risk, 2.97; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.28 to 3.90). Cultures of samples from three bronchoscopes grew P. aeruginosa, whereas cultures of samples from the environment, instrument-cleaning machines, and gastrointestinal endoscopes did not. The three bron...