1997 Fiscal Year Final Research Report Summary

Microbial contamination of nebulizers and possible measures to control it

Research Project

Project/Area Number	08670451
Research Category	Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
Allocation Type	Single-year Grants
Section	一般
Research Field	Public health/Health science
Research Institution	Nara Medical University
Principal Investigator	KATSUI Noriaki Nara Medical University, School of Medicine, Lecturer, 医学部, 講師 (70161073)
Project Period (FY)	1996 – 1997
Keywords	Nebulizer / Microbial contamination / Nosocomial infection
Research Abstract	Nebulizers have long been recognized as potential agents of nosocomial respiratory infection. In this inverstigation, the contamination rates of 20 nebulizers used in hospitals were studied. Out of 20 nebulizers eighteen (90%) were contaminated and viable microbes in the liquid reservoirs of those nebulizers ranged from 10^1-10^6 CFU/ml. Glucose nonfermentative Gram-negative bacilli were the predominant organisms isolated. Among those organisms, Sphingomonas paucimobilis, Burkholderia cepacia, Sphingobacterium multivorum, Flavobacterium meningosepticum, Fseudomonas sp., Acinetobactor sp. and Methylobacterium sp. were identified. According to statistical analysis of the methods of use and care of the nebulizers, the washing of nebulizers using a disinfectant such as sodium hypochlorite and the cold storage of medication solutions affod simple and effective means for the decontamination of the nebulizers.

(6 results)