NOSOCOMIAL INFECTIONS AND PSEUDOINFECTIONS FROM CONTAMINATED BRONCHOSCOPES - 2-YEAR FOLLOW-UP USING MOLECULAR MARKERS

During a 6-month period, two genetically distinct clones were isolated from 65% of patients with Pseudomonas aeruginosa isolated from bronch ial specimens obtained during or after bronchoscopy. This epidemic was due to contamination of bronchoscopes by washing machines. After rein troduction of manual disinfection of endoscopes, a significant decreas e in the incidence of the epidemic clones was observed, but the incide nce of nonepidemic P aeruginosa did not change. The distinction betwee n sporadic and epidemic cases was possible only with the use of a mole cular typing method (ribotyping).