Reemergence of Mycobacterium chimaera in Heater-Cooler Units despite Intensified Cleaning and Disinfection Protocol

Emerg Infect Dis. 2016 Oct;22(10):1830-3. doi: 10.3201/eid2210.160925.

Abstract

Invasive Mycobacterium chimaera infections after open-heart surgery have been reported internationally. These devastating infections result from aerosols generated by contaminated heater-cooler units used with extracorporeal circulation during surgery. Despite intensified cleaning and disinfection, surveillance samples from factory-new units acquired during 2014 grew nontuberculous mycobacteria after a median of 174 days.

Keywords: Mycobacterium chimaera; bacteria; disinfection; heater–cooler units; hospital equipment; hospital infections; nontuberculous mycobacterial infections; nosocomial infections; tuberculosis and other mycobacteria.

MeSH terms

  • Aerosols / adverse effects
  • Cardiac Surgical Procedures / adverse effects
  • Cross Infection / etiology
  • Cross Infection / microbiology
  • Disinfection*
  • Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / microbiology*
  • Humans
  • Mycobacterium / classification
  • Mycobacterium / isolation & purification*
  • Mycobacterium Infections / etiology
  • Mycobacterium Infections / microbiology
  • Stainless Steel

Substances

  • Aerosols
  • Stainless Steel