Nosocomial burkholderia cepacia pseudo-outbreak due to contaminated “savlon” in the bronchospy unit

Abstract EN

Between 5th July and 22nd September 1999, forty-three patients were bronchoscoped of whom forty-one had samples sent for Microbiology i.e., eighty-two specimens (forty one brunch-alveolar lavage (BAL) and forty one bronchial wash (BW)).

Of the eighty-two specimens, forty (from twenty patients) grew Burkholderia cepacia with or without other pathogens.

None of the patients showed evidence of infection.

Sputum cultures from all patients before bronchoscopy and during the episode of infection did not grow B.

cepacia.

“Savlon” (chlorhexidine and cetrimide; Schering-Plough), used for cleaning broncho-scopes was found to be contaminated with B. cepacia and acted as a source of contamination of the environment, bronchoscopes and samples of patients, leading to a pseudo-outbreak. Key words: Burkholderia cepacia, Bronchoscopy, Savlon, Pseudo-outbreak. Introduction: B.cepacia