title: Microbial contamination of disinfectants used for intermittent self-catheterization.
abstract: We investigated the microbial contamination of 0.02% benzalkonium chloride solution used in catheter kits for intermittent self-catheterization. Of 20 samples examined, 12 (60.0%) were contaminated with 8.8 x 10(2)-3.1 x 10(6) colony-forming units (cfu)/mL. The contaminants were Pseudomonas fluorescens, Burkholderia cepacia, and Aeromonas spp. These results showed that 0.02% benzalkonium chloride solution used for the lubrication/disinfection of catheters for self-catheterization is susceptible to contamination. Therefore, the lubricant/disinfectant for catheters for self-catheterization was changed from 0.02% benzalkonium chloride solution to 84-87% glycerin containing 0.02% benzalkonium chloride, and microbial contamination of the latter in catheter kits for self-catheterization was reinvestigated. Of 42 samples, 5 (11.9%) were contaminated with 20-2.0 x 10(4) cfu/mL. However, the rate of contamination of 84-87% glycerin containing 0.02% benzalkonium chloride was significantly lower than that of 0.02% benzalkonium chloride solution (P<0.0001). The contaminant of 84-87% glycerin containing 0.02% benzalkonium chloride was Bacillus spp. in all contaminated samples. In this survey, neither contaminants of 0.02% benzalkonium chloride solution nor the contaminant of 84-87% glycerin containing 0.02% benzalkonium chloride were the causative microbial species of urinary tract infection.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, Yamaguchi Grand Medical Center, Hofu 747-8511, Japan. hakuno.harumasa@white.megaegg.ne.jp
authors.forename: Harumasa
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Hakuno
authors.forename: Mitutaka
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Yamamoto
authors.forename: Shigeharu
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Oie
authors.forename: Akira
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kamiya
mesh_terms: D000333:Aeromonas / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001407:Bacillus / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D016956:Burkholderia cepacia / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002404:Catheterization / Q000379:methods*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000737:chemistry*; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods*; D005990:Glycerol; D006801:Humans; D011551:Pseudomonas fluorescens / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D012646:Self Administration / Q000379:methods*
chemical_list: D001548:Benzalkonium Compounds; D004202:Disinfectants; D005990:Glycerol