title: Bacterial contamination of the pressure receiver of a vitrectomy machine.
abstract: On a routine sterility check, the authors found bacteria in their vitrectomy machine. Serratia marcescens was detected in the pressure receiver of a roller pump vitrectomy machine. The authors improved the machine by installing a millipore filter in front of the receiver that prevents bacteria from entering it without interfering with the pressure measurements. The origin of Serratia was probably a patient with endophthalmitis who was operated on long before the routine check. Although this appears to be the first report of a bacterial contamination of a vitrectomy machine, the results of testing show that this situation is indeed possible. The authors strongly recommend routine checks of the equipment and suggest mounting an antibacterial filter.
authors.affiliation: Universitäts-Augenklinik Freiburg, Germany.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Janknecht
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kappstein
mesh_terms: D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D009877:Endophthalmitis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D015818:Eye Infections, Bacterial / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016868:Serratia Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D012706:Serratia marcescens / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity; D013530:Surgical Wound Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D014821:Vitrectomy / Q000295:instrumentation*
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial