Outbreak of Pseudomonas fluorescens bloodstream infection in a coronary care unit

An outbreak of Pseudomonas fluorescens infection in six patients in a coronary care unit was associated with a source not previously reported, namely the ice bath used for cardiac output determinations. Outbreaks of pseudobacteraemia caused by P. fluorescens and occasional blood transfusion-associated bloodstream infection (BSI) have been described. However, during the last two decades, two outbreaks of P. fluorescens BSI have been described and this article reports a third. Isolation of P. fluorescens in blood cultures must alert clinicians to the possibility of contamination of infusate, lock solutions or catheter flush. (c) 2012 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.