Outbreak of pseudomonas paucimobilis in an intensive care facility
L. R. Crane, L. C. Tagle and W. A. Palutke
During a two-month period, six patients in an intensive care unit (ICU)
were colonized or infected with Pseudomonas paucimobilis, a newly described
bacterial species. To our knowledge, the epidemic organism has not been
found previously in these units. The bacterium was usually recovered from
the sputum of persons receiving ventilatory assistance and represented
transient colonization. One patient had a symptomatic urinary tract
infection. The outbreak was confined to two of the ICUs. Cultures of
respiratory equipment were negative, but P paucimobilis was recovered from
the ICU hot water line. Water bottles used for rinsing tracheal suction
connecting tubing were found to contain P paucimobilis organisms. This
resulted from refilling with tap water. No further cases were found during
a 20-month follow-up period, when a uniform tracheal suctioning policy was
developed.
