Microbiologic contamination study of nebulizers after aerosol therapy in patients with cystic fibrosis.

BACKGROUND

To evaluate the contamination of delivery systems after an aerosol therapy session in patients with cystic fibrosis who have chronic Pseudomonas aeruginosa infection.

METHODS

Fifty-three patients with cystic fibrosis were enrolled in the study from March 1996 to June 1997. All patients were age 7 years or older and had P aeruginosa infection. They also had been treated with recombinant deoxyribonuclease and were capable of producing sputum for culture.

RESULTS

Nine devices were excluded for the study. A total of 44 nebulizers were included: 37 from patients with P aeruginosa colonization with a count of 10(6) colony-forming units/mL or more and 7 with a count of between 10(5) colony-forming units/mL and 10(6) colony-forming units/mL.

CONCLUSION

This study demonstrates that in the absence of cleaning, nebulizers of patients with cystic fibrosis who are infected with P aeruginosa are likely to be contaminated by a pathogenic flora.