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Nosocomial Mycobacterial Pseudoinfection in a Georgia Hospital

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Richard A. Goodman ,
J. David Smith ,
George P. Kubica ,
Ellen M. Dougherty  and
R. Keith Sikes
Richard A. Goodman*
Affiliation:
Division of Field Services, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control; Office of Epidemiology, Georgia Department of Human Resources; Division of Laboratory Training and Consultation, Laboratory Program Office, Centers for Disease Control; and Mycobacteriology Laboratory, Georgia Department of Human Resources, Atlanta, Georgia
J. David Smith
Affiliation:
Division of Field Services, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control; Office of Epidemiology, Georgia Department of Human Resources; Division of Laboratory Training and Consultation, Laboratory Program Office, Centers for Disease Control; and Mycobacteriology Laboratory, Georgia Department of Human Resources, Atlanta, Georgia
George P. Kubica
Affiliation:
Division of Field Services, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control; Office of Epidemiology, Georgia Department of Human Resources; Division of Laboratory Training and Consultation, Laboratory Program Office, Centers for Disease Control; and Mycobacteriology Laboratory, Georgia Department of Human Resources, Atlanta, Georgia
Ellen M. Dougherty
Affiliation:
Division of Field Services, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control; Office of Epidemiology, Georgia Department of Human Resources; Division of Laboratory Training and Consultation, Laboratory Program Office, Centers for Disease Control; and Mycobacteriology Laboratory, Georgia Department of Human Resources, Atlanta, Georgia
R. Keith Sikes
Affiliation:
Division of Field Services, Epidemiology Program Office, Centers for Disease Control; Office of Epidemiology, Georgia Department of Human Resources; Division of Laboratory Training and Consultation, Laboratory Program Office, Centers for Disease Control; and Mycobacteriology Laboratory, Georgia Department of Human Resources, Atlanta, Georgia
*
Division of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90024
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Abstract

Nosocomial pseudoepidemics may be detected when clustering of pseudoinfections occur or when artificial clusters of real infection are observed. Nontuberculous mycobacteria were reportedly isolated from specimens obtained from seven patients at one hospital from October 1980 to January 1981. Because the patients' clinical illnesses were not uniformly consistent with mycobacterial disease, we hypothesized that pseudoinfections had occurred and searched for a common source of contamination. The investigation suggested that specimen contamination was associated with one microbiology laboratory technician: 6 of 22 (27%) specimens processed by that person were positive compared with 1 of 103 (1%) specimens processed by the other five technicians. However, a specific mechanism of contamination was not identified. Nosocomial pseudoepidemics associated with false infections should be suspected and investigated when clinical features and laboratory findings do not agree.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 5 , Issue 12 , December 1984 , pp. 573 - 576
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1984

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