Mycobacterial contamination of bronchoscopes: Challenges and possible solutions in low resource settings

Publication date: Available online 21 August 2016 Source:International Journal of Mycobacteriology Author(s): Dania Khalid Saeed, Sadia Shakoor, Seema Irfan, Rumina Hasan The use of bronchoscopes has increased in tuberculosis (TB) diagnostics to circumvent the diagnostic challenges that are associated with low sputum volume and smear-negative TB. In healthcare facilities situated in low income countries that have a high burden of TB, adequate decontamination of bronchoscopes is a challenge and often overlooked to save on time and costs. This amplifies the risk of outbreaks and pseudo-outbreaks due to Mycobacterium tuberculosis and nontuberculosis mycobacteria. In this minireview, we review published literature of contaminated bronchoscopes causing pseudo-outbreaks of M. tuberculosis and nontuberculosis mycobacteria in an effort to determine common sources, and possible mitigation strategies in low-resource settings.
Source: International Journal of Mycobacteriology - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research