title: Microbial contamination of non-invasive ventilation devices used by adults with cystic fibrosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is currently little evidence regarding potential risks of bacterial contamination of non-invasive ventilation (NIV) devices used by cystic fibrosis (CF) patients.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to determine the extent of bacterial contamination of NIV devices in our regional adult CF centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven NIV devices recently used by CF patients chronically infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa or Burkholderia cepacia complex (BCC) were swabbed in seven areas, both external and internal. Two devices had undergone ethylene oxide (EtO) sterilization between patient use and swabbing, and five devices had not undergone EtO sterilization.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Swabs from five devices had insignificant growth of environmental organisms and two devices had significant growth of environmental organisms. No CF pathogens were isolated from any machine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No evidence was found of pathogenic microbial contamination of NIV devices used by CF patients in this small study. We suggest that further studies examine for evidence of bacterial contamination of NIV devices and that this issue should be included in future CF infection control guidelines.
authors.affiliation: Virology, Health Protection Agency, Microbiological Services, Heart of England NHS Foundation Trust, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mutagi
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Nash
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Cameron
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abbott
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Agostini
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Whitehouse
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Honeybourne
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boxall
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D019121:Burkholderia Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D003550:Cystic Fibrosis / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000628:therapy*; D012122:Ventilators, Mechanical / Q000382:microbiology*