Risk of Bacillus cereus and Pseudomonas aeruginosa nosocomial infections in a Burns Centre: the microbiological monitoring of water supplies for a preventive strategy

This paper reports on an extensive epidemiological survey of the microbiological monitoring of the environment, staff, and patients in the Intensive Care Unit of the Palermo Bums Centre (Italy). The aim of the survey was to evaluate the presence and distribution of environmental sources of pathogens and opportunistic bacterial agents of nosocomial infection in immunocompromised hosts. Strains collected from air, tap water, and medical and nursing staff were compared with strains isolated from burn patients in order to study the potential transmission route of bacteria. The results showed environmental strains presenting a profile identical to that of the clinical strains, suggesting a link between the environment, staff, and the patients. A programme of routine microbiological monitoring proved to be effective as a surveillance programme for the reduction of nosocomial infection