Pseudomonas aeruginosarespiratory tract infections in patients receiving mechanical ventilation

Abstract

Eighteen patients treated by tracheostomy and mechanical ventilation were studied in an attempt to determine whether contaminated ventilators could act as a source ofPseudomonas aeruginosaisolated from the respiratory tract. Twelve became infected. In seven instances it was possible to demonstrate prior contamination of the ventilator. Furthermore, eight of the patients had indistinguishable organisms on the basis of pyocine and phage typing, and six of the ventilators harboured the same organisms. The most likely explanation is cross-infection via contaminated machines.