Pseudo-outbreak of "Mycobacterium paraffinicum" infection and/or colonization in a tertiary care medical center.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate a pseudo-outbreak of "Mycobacterium paraffinicum" (unofficial taxon) infection and/or colonization, using isolates recovered from clinical and environmental specimens.


METHODS
Outbreak investigation.


METHODS
University-affiliated, tertiary-care hospital.


METHODS
M. paraffinicum, a slow-growing, nontuberculous species of mycobacteria, was recovered from 21 patients and an ice machine on a single patient care unit over a 2.5-year period. The clinical, epidemiological, and environmental investigation of this pseudo-outbreak is described.


RESULTS
Twenty-one patients with pulmonary symptoms and possible risk factors for tuberculosis were admitted to inpatient rooms that provided airborne isolation conditions in 2 adjacent hospital buildings. In addition, 1 outpatient had induced sputum cultured for mycobacteria in the pulmonary function laboratory. Of the samples obtained from these 21 patients, 26 isolates from respiratory samples and 1 isolate from a stool sample were identified as M. paraffinicum. Environmental isolates obtained from an ice machine in the patient care unit where the majority of the patients were admitted were also identified as M. paraffinicum.


CONCLUSIONS
An epidemiological investigation that used molecular tools confirmed the suspicion of a pseudo-outbreak of M. paraffinicum infection and/or colonization. The hospital water system was identified as the source of contamination.
Wang
Shu-Hua
SH
Center for Microbial Interface Biology, Department of Internal Medicine, The Ohio State University Medical Center, Columbus, USA. Shu-Hua.Wang@osumc.edu
Pancholi
Preeti
P
Stevenson
Kurt
K
Yakrus
Mitchell A
MA
Butler
W Ray
WR
Schlesinger
Larry S
LS
Mangino
Julie E
JE
D000046:Academic Medical Centers; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D004196:Disease Outbreaks; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007053:Ice; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009161:Mycobacterium / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014871:Water Microbiology; D014881:Water Supply / Q000032:analysis; D055815:Young Adult
D007053:Ice