ISOLATION OF MYCOBACTERIUM-CHELONAE IN A BRONCHOSCOPY UNIT AND ITS SUBSEQUENT ERADICATION

Setting: Contamination events with Mycobacterium chelonae in 7 patient s undergoing bronchoscopy, out of a total of 100 patients in a 5-month period, were analysed. Objective: To identify and assess the importan ce of factors thought to be relevant in the aetiology of these contami nation events and by removing these factors, to eradicate the problem of continuing M. chelonae contamination. Design: A retrospective analy sis of the frequency of M. chelonae isolates from bronchoalveolar flui d, assessing the contribution of the following measures to the eradict ion of M. chelonae: (1) changes to the bronchoscopy unit's water suppl y; (2) insertion of bacterial filters; (3) installation of a new semi- automated cleaning machine incorporating an ultrasound cycle; (4) staf f training in correct use of the new equipment. Results: Following the discontinuation of using tapwater in the cleaning process, the above changes resulted in complete eradication of contamination events, with no further events occurring in the following 12 months. Conclusion: I nsertion of bacterial filters into the water supply, with the addition of a more sophisticated semi-automatic cleaning machine involving an ultrasound cycle in addition to conventional cleaning methods currentl y used, will help reduce or eradicate contamination events with M. che lonae in bronchoscopy units.