Sommerstein, Rami; Rüegg, Christian; Kohler, Philipp; Bloemberg, Guido; Kuster, Stefan P; Sax, Hugo (2016). Transmission of Mycobacterium chimaera from Heater-Cooler Units during Cardiac Surgery despite an Ultraclean Air Ventilation System. Emerging infectious diseases, 22(6), pp. 1008-1013. U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases 10.3201/eid2206.160045
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Heater-cooler units (HCUs) were recently identified as a source of Mycobacterium chimaera causing surgical site infections. We investigated transmission of this bacterium from HCUs to the surgical field by using a thermic anemometer and particle counter, videotape of an operating room equipped with an ultraclean laminar airflow ventilation system, and bacterial culture sedimentation plates in a nonventilated room. Smoke from the HCU reached the surgical field in 23 s by merging with ultraclean air. The HCU produced on average 5.2, 139, and 14.8 particles/min in the surgical field at positions Off, On/oriented toward, and On/oriented away, respectively. Culture plates were positive for M. chimaera <5 m from the HCU in the test room. These experiments confirm airborne transmission of M. chimaera aerosols from a contaminated HCU to an open surgical field despite ultraclean air ventilation. Efforts to mitigate infectious risks during surgery should consider contamination from water sources and airflow-generating devices.
Item Type: |
Journal Article (Original Article) |
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Division/Institute: |
04 Faculty of Medicine > Department of Haematology, Oncology, Infectious Diseases, Laboratory Medicine and Hospital Pharmacy (DOLS) > Clinic of Infectiology |
UniBE Contributor: |
Sommerstein, Rami |
Subjects: |
600 Technology > 610 Medicine & health |
ISSN: |
1080-6040 |
Publisher: |
U.S. National Center for Infectious Diseases |
Language: |
English |
Submitter: |
Annelies Luginbühl |
Date Deposited: |
07 Jun 2016 16:03 |
Last Modified: |
05 Dec 2022 14:55 |
Publisher DOI: |
10.3201/eid2206.160045 |
PubMed ID: |
27070958 |
Uncontrolled Keywords: |
Mycobacterium chimaera; aerosols; airborne transmission pathway; bacteria; cardiac surgical procedures; cross infection; disease outbreaks; heater–cooler units; nontuberculous mycobacteria; surgical wound infection; tuberculosis and other mycobacteria |
BORIS DOI: |
10.7892/boris.81234 |
URI: |
https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/81234 |
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