[Reservoirs and transmission of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in intensive care unit].
OBJECTIVE
The authors had for aim to study reservoirs and transmission of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in an intensive care unit.


METHODS
A 6-month prospective descriptive study was made on water samples, samples from hands of health care workers, and clinical samples. P. aeruginosa strains were compared by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.


RESULTS
Among the 211 patients hospitalized during the study, 14 (6.6%) were infected by P. aeruginosa. Out of 494 water samples, 80 were contaminated by P. aeruginosa. The regularly disinfected water taps were more rarely contaminated than the others (P<10(-5)). Out of 140 hand samples, one showed contamination from an infected patient.


CONCLUSIONS
aeruginosa cross transmission was observed during this study. We should follow strict hygienic precautions such as wearing gloves and performing thorough alcoholic rub disinfection. Water taps are often contaminated and require regular disinfection.
Lashéras
A
A
Service d'hygiène hospitalière, hôpital Pellegrin, place Amélie-Raba-Léon, 33076 Bordeaux cedex, France. agnes.lasheras@chu-bordeaux.fr
Guisset
O
O
Boulestreau
H
H
Rogues
A-M
AM
Fiore
M
M
Szajner
S
S
Bezian
M-C
MC
Gabinski
C
C
Gachie
J-P
JP
D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D004203:Disinfection; D005602:France; D006801:Humans; D007297:Inpatients; D007362:Intensive Care Units / Q000592:standards*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000472:pathogenicity*; D014871:Water Microbiology