Burkholderia cepaciaLower Respiratory Tract Infection Associated With Exposure to a Respiratory Therapist

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Abstract
Objective: : To investigate and control a nosocomial outbreak ofBurkholderia cepacialower respiratory tract infection.Design: : Outbreak investigation and case-control study.Setting: : A 260-bed community hospital.Patients: : Participants were mechanically ventilated intensive care patients without cystic fibrosis. A case was defined as a hospitalized patient with a sputum culture positive forB cepaciabetween January 1 and November 6, 1998.Methods: : Respiratory therapy infection control policies and practices were reviewed; laboratory and environmental studies and a retrospective case-control study were conducted. Case-patients were matched with control-patients on age, gender, diagnosis, and type of intensive care unit.Results: : Nine case-patients were identified;B cepacialikely caused pneumonia in seven and colonization in two. Two respiratory therapy practices probably contributed to the transmission ofB cepacia:multidose albuterol vials were used among several patients, and nebulizer assemblies often were not dried between uses.B cepaciawas grown from cultures of three previously opened multidose vials; pulsed-field gel electrophoresis patterns ofB cepaciafrom seven case-patients and two multidose vials were indistinguishable. Case-patients had longer durations of heated humidified mechanical ventilation (mean, 9.8 days vs 4.4 days;P=.03) and were more likely to have exposure to one particular respiratory therapist than controls (odds ratio, undefined; 95% confidence interval, 4.7-∞P=.001). The association with the respiratory therapist, a temporary employee, persisted after controlling for duration of heated humidified ventilation. No newB cepaciainfections were identified after control measures were implemented.Conclusions: : B cepaciaprobably was transmitted among patients through use of extrinsically contaminated multidose albuterol vials. Respiratory therapy departments must pay close attention to infection control practices, particularly among new or temporary staff.