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Pressure transducers: An overlooked source of sepsis in the intensive care unit

Intensive Care Medicine volume 16, pages 511–512 (1990)Cite this article

Abstract

Between January 1988 and May 1989 twenty cases of bacteremia due toFlavobacterium sp. occurred in 17 patients admitted to a surgical intensive care unit. Epidemiologic studies disclosed that the source of theFlavobacterium bacteremias was contaminated reusable pressure transducers. Despite the use of disposable domes spread of the bacteria from the contaminated transducer heads to the fluids given to the patients occurred. An indirect contamination by hands at the time the equipment was initially assembled must have been the mode of transmission. Reinstitution of routine disinfection of the transducer heads controlled the outbreak. Disposable domes failed to prevent septicemia from contaminated pressure transducers.

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Author information

Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgery, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    W. van Overhagen & A. J. Schneider

  2. Department of Medical Microbiology, Free University Hospital, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    T. A. M. Hekker

  3. Surgical Intensive Care Unit, Free University Hospital, P.O. Box 7057, NL-1007 MB, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    A. J. Schneider

Authors
  1. T. A. M. Hekker
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  2. W. van Overhagen
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  3. A. J. Schneider
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Hekker, T.A.M., van Overhagen, W. & Schneider, A.J. Pressure transducers: An overlooked source of sepsis in the intensive care unit. Intensive Care Med 16, 511–512 (1990). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01709402

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01709402

Key words

  • Nosocomial bacteremia
  • Pressure monitoring devices
  • Desinfecting measures