Abstract
GBS colonization in a newborn nursery increased from 1-3/100 in period A(4/4-6/26/76) to 5/100 in period B(6/27-7/24) to 8 to 9/100 in period C(7/25-10/16). The rate the previous year was 1.4/100. On 10/11 cultures of fluid in the domes of 2 of 4 IPT yielded GBS. When IPT are inserted, the intrauterine contents are contiguous with the transducer dome via a column of fluid. The maternal ends, which were routinely detached from the dome and autoclaved between use, were sterile. Routine sterilization of transducer domes after maternal use began 10/12 and infant colonization declined to <2/100 in the subsequent 4 week interval.
Infant colonization in relation to maternal monitoring for periods B & C were analyzed. 111/393 (28.2%) mothers were exposed to IPT and 282 (61.8%) were not. GBS colonization of infants delivered to non-IPT monitored mothers did not differ for periods B & C. By period C use of IPT increased. In period C 13/87 infants born to IPT monitored mothers and 12/201 infants born to non-IPT monitored mothers harbored GBS (.01<P<.02). For infants born to IPT monitored mothers in period C rates of colonization (13/87) were significantly greater than in period B (0/24) (p<.0003). Contaminated IPT used during labor were a nosocomial source of GBS and may contribute to the prevalence of GBS. This experience provides another example of the infectious hazards of pressure transducers if sterilization of the external but biologically contiguous diaphragmatic component does not occur.
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Davis, J., Gutman, L., Higgins, M. et al. GROUP B STREP (GBS) COLONIZATION ASSOCIATED WITH IN TRAUTERINE PRESSURE TRANSDUCERS(IPT). Pediatr Res 11, 498 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00772
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1203/00006450-197704000-00772