IMPACT OF ATYPICAL MYCOBACTERIAL CONTAMINATION OF BRONCHOSCOPY ON PATIENT-CARE - REPORT OF AN OUTBREAK AND REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE

Respiratory secretions obtained using a flexible fiberoptic bronchosco pe can be contaminated by environmental mycobacteria. This unusual occ urrence requires a stringent review of specimen handling and equipment maintenance to detect the source of contamination. We report the cont amination of 13 bronchial washings by Mycobacterium gordonae that occu rred over a 12-month period at our institution. The role of an automat ic disinfection machine as the source for atypical mycobacteria is emp hasized. We reviewed our series as well as the medical literature to d etermine the impact on patient management after contamination of bronc hoscopy specimens by atypical mycobacteria.