Risk-assessment-based approach to patients exposed to endoscopes contaminated with Pseudomonas spp. Issue 1 (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Robertson, P.; Smith, A.; Mead, A.; Smith, I.; Khanna, N.; Wright, P.; Joannidis, P.; Boyd, S.; Anderson, M.; Hamilton, A.; Shaw, D.; Stewart, A.
• Is Part Of: Journal of hospital infection. Volume 90:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 66
• Page End: 69
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Cross infection -- Periodicals; Cross infection -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Nosocomial infections -- Periodicals; Nosocomial infections -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Cross Infection -- Periodicals; Cross Infection -- prevention & control -- Periodicals; Infection Control -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.44
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2014.12.012
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0195-6701

Abstract

<abstract xml:lang="en" abstract-type="author" id="abs0010"> <title id="sectitle0010">Summary</title> <sec> <p id="abspara0010">Patients exposed to bronchoscopes contaminated with <italic>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</italic> are at increased risk of pseudomonal infection. The optimal methods for management and mitigation of risk following exposure are controversial. This article describes a two-phase risk assessment following pseudomonal contamination of a family of 75 endoscopes, detected through routine surveillance and attributed to one endoscope washer-disinfector. An initial risk assessment identified 18 endoscopes as high risk, based on the presence of lumens used for irrigation or biopsy. Exposure was communicated to the patients' clinical teams and a further clinical risk assessment of the exposed patients was performed. No patients developed complications due to pseudomonal infection.</p> </sec> </abstract>