title: A pseudo-outbreak of Mycobacterium chelonae infections related to bronchoscopy.
abstract: Mycobacterium gordonae and rapidly growing "atypical" mycobacteria including Mycobacterium chelonae are commonly found in tap water. This article describes a pseudo-outbreak of M chelonae infections related to bronchoscopy. Because patients may be treated and isolated unnecessarily when positive with acid-fast bacilli before the species are known, the financial burden for patients and hospitals may be great.
authors.affiliation: Columbia Blake Medical Center, Bradenton, FL 34209, USA.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cox
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: deBorja
authors.forename: M C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: Bach
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques; D020680:Bronchoscopes; D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006801:Humans; D009165:Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016926:Mycobacterium chelonae / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply