The epidemiology of nosocomial epidemicPseudomonas cepaciainfections

✍ Scribed by W. J. Martone; O. C. Tablan; W. R. Jarvis

• Publisher: Springer
• Year: 1987
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 910 KB
• Volume: 3
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0393-2990
• DOI: 10.1007/bf00149728

✦ Synopsis

Pseudomonas cepacia has occasionally been identified as an epidemic and endemic nosocomial pathogen. In outbreaks, usuMly one clinical site predominates but many may be involved. Detailed investigations have usually implicated a contaminated liquid reservoir or moist environmental surface as the source. Liqttid sources have included a number of different classes of antiseptics and disinfectants such as quaternaIT ammonium chlorides, biguanides, hexachlorophene, and io,dophors. Environmental and patient isolates have bad multiply resistant antimicrobial susceptibility patterns. T~he clinical distinction between colonization and infection may be .difficult and may challenge the skills of the clinician. Expenditure of resources needed to solve epidemics is justified in view of the potential virulence of this organism and the high likelihood that an unrecognized but easily eliminated liquid environmental reservoir may be the source.