Mycobacterium chelonei isolation from broncho-alveolar lavage fluid and its practical implications.
Mycobacterium chelonei was isolated from the broncho-alveolar lavage fluid of seven patients on eight occasions over a 6-month period. The same bacterium was identified in the hospital water supply. Despite the use of a recommended disinfection procedure, it proved impossible to eradicate the organism until the bronchoscopes were treated with ethylene oxide and the use of tap water in rinsing was abandoned.
Nye
K
K
Department of Medical Microbiology, Dudley Road Hospital, Birmingham.
Chadha
D K
DK
Hodgkin
P
P
Bradley
C
C
Hancox
J
J
Wise
R
R
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000382:microbiology*; D020680:Bronchoscopes; D004203:Disinfection / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply / Q000592:standards