An epidemiological study on Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Bacillus pyocyaneus) in premature infants in the presence and absence of infection

Surveillance of colonization and late-onset septicaemia in neonates

Twenty-seven newborns had an episode of late-onset sepsis (septicaemia or bacterial meningitis after 48 h of age) over an 18 month period. Preceding or simultaneous surface cultures were available from 26 babies. Colonization with the organism causing sepsis could only be documented in 10 cases. Colonization with aminoglycoside-resistant Gram negative organisms was common but there were only two cases of systemic sepsis with a resistant organism. Pseudomonas aeruginosa frequently colonized babies over the first 8 months of the survey, but subsequently virtually ceased to colonize babies, although it continued to be a common cause of late-onset sepsis. These findings do not support the utility of routine surveillance of organisms colonizing neonates in predicting bacteria causing late-onset sepsis. They also cast doubt on the value of eliminating colonizing organisms by expensive infection control measures.

Faecal carriage of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in newborn infants

Carriage rates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa were studied using Solari medium and 1 g of faeces. The incidence in infants delivered at home was 6.0 per cent and 56.6 per cent in infants in hospital nursery. The carriage rate in healthy adults averaged 17.1 per cent an showed seasonal variations, high in summer an low in winter months. In 25 infants and two mothers the mean count of Ps. aeruginosa was 10(3)/g faeces.