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Intensive Care Medicine

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Open Access 01-08-2008 | Original

The role of water fittings in intensive care rooms as reservoirs for the colonization of patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Authors: Pascal Cholley, Michelle Thouverez, Nathalie Floret, Xavier Bertrand, Daniel Talon

Published in: Intensive Care Medicine | Issue 8/2008

Abstract

Objective

To assess the role of the water environment in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa colonization of patients in intensive care units in the absence of a recognized outbreak.

Design and setting

Prospective, single-centre study over an 8-week period in two adult ICUs at a university hospital. Environmental samples were taken from the water fittings of rooms once per week, during a 8-week period. Patients were screened weekly for P. aeruginosa carriage. Environmental and humans isolates were genotyped by using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.

Results

P. aeruginosa was detected in 193 (86.2%) of the 224 U-bend samples and 10 of the 224 samples taken from the tap (4.5%). Seventeen of the 123 patients admitted were colonized with P. aeruginosa. Only one of the 14 patients we were able to evaluate was colonized by a clone present in the water environment of his room before the patient's first positive sample was obtained.

Conclusion

The role of the water environment in the acquisition of P. aeruginosa by intensive care patients remains unclear, but water fittings seem to play a smaller role in non-epidemic situations than expected by many operational hospital hygiene teams.

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Title: The role of water fittings in intensive care rooms as reservoirs for the colonization of patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Pascal Cholley
Michelle Thouverez
Nathalie Floret
Xavier Bertrand
Daniel Talon
Publication date: 01-08-2008
Publisher: Springer-Verlag
Published in: Intensive Care Medicine / Issue 8/2008
Print ISSN: 0342-4642
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1238
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00134-008-1110-z

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

The role of water fittings in intensive care rooms as reservoirs for the colonization of patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa

Abstract

Objective

Design and setting

Results

Conclusion

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Objective

Design and setting

Results

Conclusion

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