title: Risk-assessment-based approach to patients exposed to endoscopes contaminated with Pseudomonas spp.
abstract: Patients exposed to bronchoscopes contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa are at increased risk of pseudomonal infection. The optimal methods for management and mitigation of risk following exposure are controversial. This article describes a two-phase risk assessment following pseudomonal contamination of a family of 75 endoscopes, detected through routine surveillance and attributed to one endoscope washer-disinfector. An initial risk assessment identified 18 endoscopes as high risk, based on the presence of lumens used for irrigation or biopsy. Exposure was communicated to the patients' clinical teams and a further clinical risk assessment of the exposed patients was performed. No patients developed complications due to pseudomonal infection.
authors: Department of Microbiology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK. Electronic address: paul.robertson1@nhs.net.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Robertson
authors: Department of Microbiology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK; College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Smith
authors: Department of Microbiology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Mead
authors: Department of Microbiology, Glasgow Royal Infirmary, Glasgow, UK.
authors: I
authors: I
authors: Smith
authors: Department of Microbiology, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
authors: N
authors: N
authors: Khanna
authors: Department of Microbiology, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Wright
authors: Infection Control, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Joannidis
authors: Endoscope Reprocessing Unit, Southern General Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Boyd
authors: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Endoscopy Service, Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, UK.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Anderson
authors: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Central Decontamination Unit, Glasgow, UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Hamilton
authors: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Central Decontamination Unit, Glasgow, UK.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Shaw
authors: NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Central Decontamination Unit, Glasgow, UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Stewart
mesh_terms: D001999:Bronchoscopy / Q000009:adverse effects; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000592:standards; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards; D019723:Endoscopes / Q000382:microbiology*; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006801:Humans; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D018570:Risk Assessment / Q000379:methods*; D013234:Stem Cells / Q000382:microbiology; D013242:Sterilization / Q000379:methods
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants
keywords: Endoscope washers; Endoscopes; Prevention; Pseudomonas spp.