Outbreak of Serratia Marcescens Associated with the Flexible Fiberbronchoscope

¹ From the University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque

An outbreak of pulmonary infection due to Serratia marcescens was traced to the use of the flexible fiberbronchoscope. Three patients in two different intensive care units were infected after therapeutic bronchoscopies with a fiberbronchoscope which had been used on a patient identified as having a pulmonary infection from Serratia marcescens. Fluid aspirated through the biopsy channel of the fiberbronchoscope subsequently yielded a heavy growth of the same organism. Cleaning the bronchoscope with 70 percent alcohol and periodic ethylene oxide gas sterilization was found to be inadequate and a sterilization procedure utilizing povidine iodine (Betadine solution) subsequently rendered the bronchoscope aseptic.