ABSTRACT
Bacterial contamination of staining reagents led to false-positive smears from clinical samples. Piped deionized water used to make up the staining reagents was found to be the source of contamination. The closed loop system supplying the deionized water was decontaminated with hydrogen peroxide and upgraded by addition of a reverse osmosis unit and bacterial filter. No subsequent contamination has been demonstrated.
Subject(s)
Bacterial Infections/microbiology , Body Fluids/microbiology , Gentian Violet , Gram-Negative Bacteria/isolation & purification , Phenazines , Water , Bacterial Infections/cerebrospinal fluid , Disinfection , Equipment Contamination , False Positive Reactions , HumansABSTRACT
The potential hazard from using contaminated spray cleaning fluid to clean hospital floors was investigated. Eight of 10 sprays in daily hospital use failed the 'in-use' test of Kelsey & Maures. Contamination was due to Gram-negative bacilli, mainly Pseudomonas spp. An experiment showed that freshly diluted cleaning fluid in a new spray container became contaminated in 6 days, although the route of contamination of the fluid is not clear. Air samples and samples from bedding collected during spray cleaning with contaminated fluid showed the presence of Pseudomonas spp. Use of freshly diluted cleaning fluid and daily cleaning of spray containers is recommended.
