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A Bacteriologic Evaluation

Roberta L. Luskin, MD; Robert A. Weinstein, MD; Catherine Nathan, MS; William H. Chamberlin, MD; Sherwin A. Kabins, MD

JAMA. 1986;255(7):916-920.

Abstract
In a prospective randomized study, contamination rates of disposable pressure transducers changed every two days (n=81) were compared with those changed at four (n=26) or eight days (n = 50); the mean daily incidence of contamination was 3% for each group. After four days of use, the cumulative prevalences of contamination were similar. However, after eight days, the cumulative prevalence was significantly higher in transducers used without change (6.9%) than in those changed every two days (2.9%). Gram-negative bacilli were present in 63% of contaminated transducers; over half were from the patients' own flora. The only definite transducer-related bacteremia occurred on a day of initial contamination and should have been unaffected by the interval of change. Routine use of disposable transducers can be safely extended to four days, even in a busy intensive care unit.

(JAMA 1986;255:916-920)

Author Affiliations
From the Infection Control Program and the Division of Infectious Diseases (Drs Luskin, Weinstein, and Kabins and Ms Nathan), and the Division of Primary Care (Dr Chamberlin), Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center and the Pritzker School of Medicine, University of Chicago. Dr Luskin is now with the St Joseph Hospital and Northwestern Medical School, Chicago.

Footnotes
Read in part before the 25th Interscience Conference on Antimicrobial Agents and Chemotherapy, Indianapolis, Oct 1, 1985.

Reprint requests to Department of Medicine, Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, Lake Shore Drive at 31st Street, Chicago, IL 60616 (Dr Weinstein).

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