Biocides currently used for bronchoscope decontamination are poorly effective against free-living amoebae.
Free-living amoebae may be pathogenic and harbor several agents of pneumonia. We tested the susceptibility of amoebal cysts and trophozoites to currently used biocides for bronchoscope decontamination. We showed that two particular biocides are inadequate for disinfecting bronchoscopes, as Acanthamoeba polyphaga survived 3 hours of exposure to these undiluted agents.
Unité des Rickettsies, Faculté de Médecine, Université de la Méditerranée, Marseille, France.
Gilbert
G
Greub
Didier
D
Raoult
D000048:Acanthamoeba / Q000187:drug effects*; D000818:Animals; D000890:Anti-Infective Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D020680:Bronchoscopes / Q000469:parasitology*; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D005602:France
D000890:Anti-Infective Agents; D004202:Disinfectants