Bacteria Recovered From Distilled Water and Inhalation Therapy Equipment

Abstract

THE PRESENT STUDY was begun as an attempt to describe the species of bacteria which were found in distilled water in inhalation therapy equipment. However, classification of the isolates was difficult, particularly for Pseudomonas-like species.^1-5 Because of the need to improve communication between clinician and bacteriologist, this paper summarizes the taxonomy of these organisms and defines bacterial isolates in terms of techniques simple enough to be available to the routine hospital diagnostic laboratory. The terminology previously used in the medical literature, and generally recognized as indicating a water source is retained in this paper, in spite of considerable disagreement among authorities over the use of the terms Mima, Herellea, Achromobacter, and Alcaligenes.^6-10 Methods Primary Isolation of Organisms.—Clean, dry surfaces of inhalation therapy equipment were cultured by rubbing with a sterile cotton swab, which was transported in thioglycollate broth, and inoculated on 5% sheep blood agar plates.