Burkholderia spp. contamination detected in ultrasound gels

Abstract number: P797

Eyigor M., Evcil Celik G., Gultekin B., Aydin N.

Objectives: Contamination of pressure transducers, propofol, water used to dilute alcohol including skin antiseptics, mouthwash, antiseptics, etc has resulted in outbreaks of nosocomial infections. Similarly, there are also reports stating that contaminated ultrasound gels cause hospital infections. In this study, Burkholderia spp. contamination determined in ultrasound gels used in our hospital were investigated.

Methods: During surveillance studies performed for infection control in our hospital, an increase in wound infection rates were determined and environmental cultures were performed to determine the source of infection. In ultrasound gels, Burkholderia spp. was grown. Therefore, all gels in the hospital were collected to investigate for contamination. Gels were packed in boxes containing 12 plastic bottles, and inoculations into blood agar and EMB agar for culture were performed. Bacteria grown in cultures were defined by conventional methods and BBL Crystal Identification System (Becton Dickinson and Company). In order to investigate relationship with clonality, pulse-field gel electrophoresis was performed in identified origin.

Results: Two different brands of gels were found to be used in our hospital. A total of 669 unopened bottles of gels from two brands were sampled for cultures. When no growth was observed in any of total 364 bottles for one of the brands, these gels were distributed back to the hospital. As for the other brand, a total of 305 bottles were investigated and in 222 (72.8%) of them, similar colony growth was detected. One strain was taken per packet therefore total of 21 strains of Burkholderia spp., were defined. Pulse gel electrophoresis was performed for all 21 strains and was found that all originated from the same clone.

Conclusions: It should be considered that ultrasound gels may be contaminated during production and/or packaging and may be a source of nosocomial infections.