Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia in the Adult Intensive Care Unit Traced to Contaminated Indigo-Carmine Dye

Abstract

AbstractWe report an unusual cluster of Burkholderia cepacia in patients. Environmental cultures identified indigo-carmine dye used in enteral feeding as the reservoir. Compared with the controls, the cases were significantly more likely to have received tube feedings tinted with this dye. This outbreak was terminated with the removal of the dye from hospital inventory.