Outbreak of Burkholderia cepacia Infections Linked to Moisturizing Body Milk in ICU
Author Information
Author(s): Álvarez-Lerma Francisco, Maull Elena, Terradas Roser, Segura Concepción, Planells Irene, Coll Pere, Knobel Hernando, Vázquez Antonia
Primary Institution: Hospital Universitari del Mar, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
Hypothesis
Is moisturizing body milk a reservoir for Burkholderia cepacia infections in ICU patients?
Conclusion
Moisturizing body milk is a potential source of infection, leading to severe life-threatening infections in critically ill patients.
Supporting Evidence
- B. cepacia was isolated from three samples of the moisturizing body milk applied to patients.
- Two additional hermetically closed units of the moisturizer tested positive for B. cepacia.
- All strains recovered from environmental and biological samples were identified as belonging to the same clone.
Takeaway
Some lotions used in hospitals can have germs that make sick people even sicker, so it's important to be careful about what we use on them.
Methodology
Isolates of Burkholderia cepacia were recovered from biological samples of five ICU patients, and samples of moisturizing body milk were cultured to identify contamination.
Limitations
No quantitative data regarding contamination levels of the moisturizing body milk were obtained.
Participant Demographics
Patients aged 71 to 85, with various medical conditions including peritonitis and urinary septic shock.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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