Molecular Typing ofMycobacterium chelonaeIsolates From a Pseudo-outbreak Involving an Automated Bronchoscope Washer

Abstract

We describe a pseudo-outbreak ofMycobacterium chelonaeinfection in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid from 9 patients that was traced to contamination of an automated bronchoscope washer. Molecular typing using repetitive extragenic palindromic polymerase chain reaction was helpful in confirming epidemiologic and clinical findings.