| Budget Amount *help |
¥3,600,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,600,000)
Fiscal Year 2004: ¥1,700,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,700,000)
Fiscal Year 2003: ¥1,900,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,900,000)
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| Research Abstract |
In this study, we investigated bacterial contamination of medical machines with water tubes ; automatic endoscope reprocessors, water sterilizers, and dental units.
We investigated bacterial contamination of the endoscope reprocessors used in Jichi Medical School Hospital. Atypical mycobacteria, methylobacteria, and non-fermenting Gram-negative rods(NF-GNRs) were isolated all the machines. We also investigated city water used in the hospital, and atypical mycobacteria and methylobacteria were isolated from city water. However, NF-GNRs were not isolated from city water. In addition, we investigated the endoscope reprocessors used in other hospitals and obtained similar results.
We examined bacteriologically the water sterilizers used in our hospital. They had been used in order to supply germ-free water for hand washing. There are two types of water sterilizers ; Ultraviolet(UV) type and Filter type. UV type machines kill microorganisms in water by UV rays. Filter type machines remove mic
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roorganisms from water by filtration. The UV-type machines used in our hospital were all contaminated with atypical mycobacteria, methylobacteria, and NF-GNRs. The filter type machines whose filters had not been replaced regularly were also contaminated with the same bacteria. On the other hand, the filter type machines whose filters had been replaced regularly were not contaminated with bacteria
We examined bacterial contamination of dental units. The dental units examined were all contaminated with the above bacteria. The contamination level of the machines was negatively correlated with their use-frequency. Disinfection of water lines of dental units was effective for the prevention of bacterial contamination.
Our results indicate that medical machines with water tubes are commonly contaminated with bacteria. The bacteria species isolated in this study do not have strong pathogenicity. However, they are dangerous enough for compromised hosts. Thus, it is necessary to prevent and control of the bacterial contamination of the machines. Less
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