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An Outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Respiratory Tract Infections Associated with Intrinsically Contaminated Ultrasound Transmission Gel

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Paul Chittick ,
Victoria Russo ,
Matthew Sims ,
Barbara Robinson-Dunn ,
Susan Oleszkowicz ,
Kara Sawarynski ,
Kimberly Powell ,
Jacob Makin ,
Elizabeth Darnell  and
Judith A. Boura
...Show all authors
Paul Chittick*
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious Disease, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, Michigan Department of Epidemiology, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, Michigan Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, Michigan
Victoria Russo
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, Michigan
Matthew Sims
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious Disease, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, Michigan Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, Michigan
Barbara Robinson-Dunn
Affiliation:
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, Michigan Department of Microbiology, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, Michigan
Susan Oleszkowicz
Affiliation:
Department of Epidemiology, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, Michigan
Kara Sawarynski
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious Disease, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, Michigan Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, Michigan
Kimberly Powell
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious Disease, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, Michigan
Jacob Makin
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, Michigan
Elizabeth Darnell
Affiliation:
Department of Microbiology, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, Michigan
Judith A. Boura
Affiliation:
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, Michigan Department of Biostatistics, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, Michigan
Bobby Boyanton
Affiliation:
Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, Michigan Department of Microbiology, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, Michigan
Jeffrey Band
Affiliation:
Department of Infectious Disease, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, Michigan Department of Epidemiology, Beaumont Health System, Royal Oak, Michigan Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, Rochester, Michigan
*
Department of Infectious Disease, Beaumont Health System, 3601 West 13 Mile Road, Royal Oak, MI 48073 (paul.chittick@beaumont.edu)
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Abstract

We describe an outbreak of Pseudomonas aeruginosa respiratory tract infections related to intrinsically contaminated ultrasound gel used for intraoperative transesophageal echocardiograms in cardiovascular surgery patients. This investigation led to a product safety alert by the Food and Drug Administration and the development of guidelines for appropriate use of ultrasound gel.

Type
Concise Communication
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 34 , Issue 8 , August 2013 , pp. 850 - 853
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2013

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References

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