Waterborne Pathogens Articles
This article discusses the economic impact associated with infections due to waterborne pathogens – in this case Pseudomonas aeruginosa. On average, patients with hospital-acquired infections due to P. aeuginosa incurred $40,000 in additional costs and extra length of stay in the intensive care unit of 70 days. These figures help to justify the expense of preventive measures such as point-of-use filters or chemical water treatment.
Hospital Economic Impact of an Outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections
R. Bou*, L. Lorente, A.Aguilar, J. Perpiñán, P. Ramos, M. Peris, D. Gonzalez
Journa lof Hospital Infection (2009) 71,138e142
Hospital tap water is recognized as a source for hospital acquired infections. Systemic water treatment and point-of-use filtration technologies are evaluated.
Hospital Tap Water
A Reservoir of Risk for Health Care Associated Infection
Joseph Steven Cervia, MD, FACP, FAAP, FIDSA,*. Girolamo A. Ortolano, PhD,*
and Francis P.Canonica, PhD*
Infectious Diseases in Clinical Practice Volume 16, Number 6, November 2008
The role of sinks in the transmission of multi-drug resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa is the subject of this article. Thirty-six (36) patients were infected and 7 died as a result of exposure to this waterborne pathogen. The authors speculate that the patients became infected after exposure to water that had splashed around a sink. Pseudomonas was isolated from the sink drain.
Outbreak of Multidrug-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Colonization and Infection Secondary to Imperfect
Intensive Care Unit Room Design
Susy Hota, MD; Zahir Hirji, MHSc; Karen Stockton, MHSc; Camille Lemieux, MD, LLB; Helen Dedier, MLT;
Gideon Wolfaardt, PhD; Michael A. Gardam, MD, MSc
Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology January 2009, vol. 30, no. 1
The role of faucets as a reservoir for Pseudomonas aeruginosa was
investigated as the source of infection for patients hospitalized in
intensive care units (ICUs). CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the
water system of the ICUs was the primary reservoir of patient's
colonization/infection with P. aeruginosa in a substantial proportion of
patients, although the exact mode of acquisition could not be determined.
Faucets as a reservoir of endemic Pseudomonas aeruginosa
colonization/infections in intensive care units.
Blanc DS, Nahimana I, Petignat C, Wenger A, Bille J, Francioli P.
Intensive Care Med. 2004 Oct;30(10):1964-8.
What is the significance of “viable but non-culturable (VBNC) bacteria in water which can be detected by molecular probes and by physiological activity? The VBNC state has been demonstrated for Salmonella, Shigella, Vibrio and Legionella pneumophila. The article by Rebecca Smith and colleagues provides concrete evidence that these VBNC bacteria may not pose a threat as a hidden reservoir of infectious disease.
Alive But Not Infectious
THE LANCET Infectious Diseases
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