Tap water colonization with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in a surgical intensive care unit (ICU) and relation to Pseudomonas infections of ICU patients

Water faucets on a surgical intensive care ward were examined prospectively as a source of Pseudomonas aeruginosa infections. All water outlets harbored distinct genotypes of P aeruginosa over prolonged time periods. Over a period of 7 months, 5 (29%) of 17 patients were infected with P aeruginosa genotypes also detectable in tap water (Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2001.;22:49-52).