Niersteenvergruizer als mogelijke bron van ziekenhuisinfecties

– Shortly after one of the mobile lithotriptors in the Netherlands was put into use, it was found to be infected with Pseudomonas aeruginosa serotype 7. Five months later, after use in 18 different hospitals, the infection still existed.

In five hospitals this particular strain was isolated from the bath as well as from other parts of the water circulation system of the lithotriptor. In one hospital the strain was isolated from the urine of four patients after treatment in the lithotriptor. All four patients had indwelling catheters or wound drains. In two hospitals the strain was isolated from one and three patients respectively who had not been treated in the lithotriptor. Immediately after the detection of the infection, measures were taken in the hospitals to guarantee a safe treatment.

As the complete water system of the lithotriptor was infected, routine disinfection of the bath alone, as recommended by the manufacturer, is not sufficient. A daily disinfection of the water circulation system is proposed, to be followed by in-use control of the water quality.