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Steven G. Kelsen, MD; Maryanne McGuckin, MS; David P. Kelsen, MD; Neil S. Cherniack, MD

JAMA. 1977;237(21):2311-2314.

Abstract
To determine whether bacteria present in ambient air play a role in the contamination of fine-particle reservoir nebulizers, nebulizers were placed in operation in separate hospital locations having qualitatively and quantitatively different bacterial flora in background air. Nebulizers placed in a surgical intensive care unit that had higher numbers of bacteria and a predominance of Gram-negative organisms in background air had a significantly higher incidence of nebulizer contamination (33.0%) than did nebulizers placed in a non-patient-care area that had lower bacterial counts and a predominance of Gram-positive organisms (0%) (P <.05). The present study indicates that airborne contamination of fine-particle reservoir nebulizers occurs when bacteria present in ambient air enter the nebulizer during its operation.

(JAMA 237:2311-2314, 1977)

Author Affiliations
From the Cardiovascular-Pulmonary Division (Drs S. Kelsen and Cherniack) and the Department of Microbiology (Ms McGuckin), Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; and Memorial Hospital, Sloan-Kettering Institute, New York (Dr D. Kelsen).

Footnotes
Reprint requests to Cardiovascular-Pulmonary Division, 973 Maloney Bldg, University of Pennsylvania Hospital, 3600 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (Dr S. Kelsen).

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