Transmission of Mycobacterium chimaera from Heater–Cooler Units during Cardiac Surgery despite an Ultraclean Air Ventilation System

Sommerstein, Rami; Rüegg, Christian; Kohler, Philipp; Bloemberg, Guido; Kuster, Stefan P.; Sax, Hugo

doi:10.3201/eid2206.160045

i

Transmission of Mycobacterium chimaera from Heater–Cooler Units during Cardiac Surgery despite an Ultraclean Air Ventilation System

Supporting Files Public Domain

Jun 15 2016
By Sommerstein, Rami ; Rüegg, Christian ; Kohler, Philipp ; ...

File Language:

English

Details

Alternative Title:

Emerg Infect Dis
Personal Author:

Sommerstein, Rami ; Rüegg, Christian ; Kohler, Philipp ; Bloemberg, Guido ; Kuster, Stefan P. ; Sax, Hugo
Description:

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.
Subjects:

Bacterial Load Cardiac Surgical Procedures/adverse Effects Cross Infection/diagnosis Cross Infection/microbiology Cross Infection/transmission Equipment Contamination Expedited Humans Mycobacterium Avium Complex Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous/diagnosis Postoperative Complications
Source:

Emerg Infect Dis. 22(6):1008-1013.
Pubmed ID:

27070958
Pubmed Central ID:

PMC4880077
Document Type:

Journal Article
Volume:

22
Issue:

6
Collection(s):

Emerging Infectious Diseases
Main Document Checksum:

urn:sha256:529f629b819a28538455b188263f281101e40121f6c67d268f5aad506ce21c10
Download URL:

https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/39705/cdc_39705_DS1.pdf
File Type:

[PDF - 1.61 MB ]

File Language:

English

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