title: Infection due to a contaminated thoracic drainage system.
abstract: Infection and colonization of the pleural space in three patients was traced to contaminated thoracic drain equipment. The organisms implicated were Bacillus cereus, Staphylococcus aureus and various non-fermenting Gram-negative bacteria. A careful examination of cleaning and decontamination procedures revealed delay in replacing the drainage bottle jar to be the main factor responsible for the contamination of the drainage unit and the pleural space. Recent technical adaptation of the drainage apparatus had removed the need for daily changing of this jar. These findings confirm that thoracic drainage systems may be a potential source of contamination for the patient. We emphasize that technical improvements to existing operating apparatus should necessitate the adaptation of recommendations governing their use in accordance with approved hospital hygiene standards.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Microbiology, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: E E
authors.initials: EE
authors.lastname: Stobberingh
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D016863:Bacillaceae Infections / Q000382:microbiology*; D001409:Bacillus cereus; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology*; D004203:Disinfection; D004322:Drainage / Q000295:instrumentation*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands; D010995:Pleural Diseases / Q000382:microbiology*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology*