Aerators as a reservoir of Acinetobacter junii: an outbreak of bacteraemiain paediatric oncology patients

Tap water can play a role as a source of nosocomial pathogens, and faucet a erators have occasionally been mentioned in the literature associated with colonization or infection in hospitalized patients. In this study we report on outbreak of bacteraemia in paediatric oncology patients caused by Acine tobacter junii. Environmental sampling showed the water system to be contam inated with A. junii. Molecular typing using automatic laser fluorescence a nalysis of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD-ALFA) revealed two dist inct strains. The outbreak strain, isolated from blood cultures of the: aff ected children, was only found in the water taps of staff rooms. Aerators w ere commonly found to be contaminated, and more so than water obtained afte r removal of these devices. We believe that conventional aerators consistin g of several wire meshes can serve as a reservoir for low levels of bacteri a present in the water system. We recommend, especially for high-risk areas , either that aerators should not be used, or the use of aerators consistin g of radially and vertically arranged lamellae, which do not lead to the co llection of sediment or water stagnation, and to clean them regularly. (C) 2000 The Hospital Infection Society.