Yorioka Katsuhiro, Oie Shigeharu, Hayashi Koji, Kimoto Hiroo, Furukawa Hiroyuki
J Environ Health. 2016 Jun;78(10):32-5.
Although microbial contamination of ice machines has been reported, no previous study has addressed microbial contamination of ice produced by machines equipped with activated charcoal (AC) filters in hospitals. The aim of this study was to provide clinical data for evaluating AC filters to prevent microbial contamination of ice. We compared microbial contamination in ice samples produced by machines with (n = 20) and without an AC filter (n = 40) in Shunan City Shinnanyo Municipal Hospital. All samples from the ice machine equipped with an AC filter contained 10-116 CFUs/g of glucose nonfermenting gram-negative bacteria such as Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Chryseobacterium meningosepticum. No microorganisms were detected in samples from ice machines without AC filters. After the AC filter was removed from the ice machine that tested positive for Gram-negative bacteria, the ice was resampled (n = 20). Analysis found no contaminants. Ice machines equipped with AC filters pose a serious risk factor for ice contamination. New filter-use guidelines and regulations on bacterial detection limits to prevent contamination of ice in healthcare facilities are necessary.
虽然已有报道称制冰机存在微生物污染，但此前尚无研究涉及医院中配备活性炭（AC）过滤器的制冰机所产冰块的微生物污染情况。本研究的目的是提供临床数据，以评估AC过滤器对防止冰块微生物污染的作用。我们比较了日本周南市周南医院中配备AC过滤器（n = 20）和未配备AC过滤器（n = 40）的制冰机所产冰块样本中的微生物污染情况。所有来自配备AC过滤器的制冰机的样本均含有10 - 116 CFU/g的葡萄糖非发酵革兰氏阴性菌，如铜绿假单胞菌和脑膜败血金黄杆菌。未配备AC过滤器的制冰机样本中未检测到微生物。从革兰氏阴性菌检测呈阳性的制冰机上移除AC过滤器后，对冰块重新采样（n = 20）。分析发现没有污染物。配备AC过滤器的制冰机是冰块污染的一个严重风险因素。有必要制定新的过滤器使用指南以及关于细菌检测限的法规，以防止医疗设施中的冰块受到污染。
