title: Continued transmission of Pseudomonas aeruginosa from a wash hand basin tap in a critical care unit.
abstract: Pseudomonas aeruginosa is an important nosocomial pathogen, colonizing hospital water supplies including taps and sinks. We report a cluster of P. aeruginosa acquisitions during a period of five months from tap water to patients occupying the same burns single room in a critical care unit. Pseudomonas aeruginosa cultured from clinical isolates from four different patients was indistinguishable from water strains by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. Water outlets in critical care may be a source of P. aeruginosa despite following the national guidance, and updated guidance and improved control measures are needed to reduce the risks of transmission to patients.
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK. Electronic address: mark.garvey@uhb.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: M I
authors.initials: MI
authors.lastname: Garvey
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Bradley
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tracey
authors.affiliation: University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Oppenheim
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D018562:Disease Transmission, Infectious; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D058889:Molecular Typing; D011552:Pseudomonas Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D011550:Pseudomonas aeruginosa / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014871:Water Microbiology
keywords: Critical care; Nosocomial; Outbreak; Pseudomonas aeruginosa; Water; Water outlets