Notes from the Field: Mycobacterium abscessus Outbreak Related to Contaminated Water Among Ventilator-Dependent Residents of a Pediatric Facility ― Pennsylvania, 2022

Jenna N. Sinkevitch, MSPH1,2; Julie Paoline, MA1; Aaron Smee, MPH1; Sophie Jones, PhD3,4; Kevin Spicer, MD, PhD3; Paige Gable, MPH3; Hollis Houston3; Valerie Stevens3; Cara Bicking Kinsey, PhD1 (

Related Materials

• Article PDF
• Full Issue PDF

Mycobacterium abscessus, a nontuberculous mycobacterium found in water and soil, is an opportunistic pathogen responsible for waterborne illness outbreaks in health care settings (1). On September 29, 2022, the Pennsylvania Department of Health (PADOH) received notification of M. abscessus–positive respiratory isolates from ventilator-dependent residents of a 34-bed pediatric facility. The facility is licensed for residential services, but not as a health care facility. A case was defined as the first M. abscessus–positive culture identified from a resident of this facility during March–August 2022. Three cases were identified: two colonizations and one clinical infection. PADOH investigated this outbreak to identify risk factors and recommend infection prevention and control (IPC) measures.

Investigation and Outcomes

On October 12, PADOH conducted a site visit to observe IPC practices. Three instances of respiratory care were observed, during which respiratory therapists failed to follow aseptic technique. Of 37 observed opportunities for hand hygiene, 30 (81%) were compliant. With regard to tracheostomy tube reprocessing (i.e., cleaning and disinfection for reuse), the manufacturer provided different instructions for home care and health care settings; the latter included stricter processes to reduce the risk for pathogen transmission. Staff members did not follow either of the manufacturer’s processes, and instead, created their own procedure using nonmedical cleaning tools and an ultraviolet baby bottle sterilizer for which there is no documentation of effectiveness. PADOH recommended that the facility follow the more stringent manufacturer instructions for tracheostomy tube reprocessing for health care settings* and use aseptic practices during respiratory care. A second site visit on October 31 showed improvement in IPC practices; however, staff members were still not reprocessing tracheostomy tubes following manufacturer recommendations for health care. This activity was reviewed by CDC, deemed not research, and was conducted consistent with applicable federal law and CDC policy.†

Multiple areas of the building had not been in use for 2 years, raising concern about stagnant water and contamination. The facility did not have a water management plan or monitor water quality, as is recommended to prevent water-related infections (2). On October 31, PADOH collected 21 environmental samples from faucets, aerators, showerheads and drains, filtered water and ice machines, and water samples from clinical care areas where residents with M. abscessus colonization or infection resided. Mycobacterium species were identified in 16 (76%) of 21 environmental samples; M. abscessus was identified from a shower drain swab (

Preliminary Conclusions and Actions

Epidemiologic and laboratory evidence suggest that this outbreak of M. abscessus was related to substandard water quality and inadequate IPC practices. Extended disuse of space in the building potentially resulted in stagnant water in plumbing, and the lack of a water management program meant that water quality was unmonitored. The facility licensing requirements did not emphasize IPC standards necessary for residents with high medical needs, including those who are dependent on ventilators. In ventilator-capable congregate settings IPC-recommended procedures should meet health care standards to prevent transmission of infectious organisms.

Corresponding author: Jenna N. Sinkevitch, c-jsinkevi@pa.gov.

1Bureau of Epidemiology, Pennsylvania Department of Health; 2Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, Atlanta, Georgia; 3Division of Healthcare Quality Promotion, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, CDC; 4Epidemic Intelligence Service, CDC.

All authors have completed and submitted the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors form for disclosure of potential conflicts of interest. Hollis Houston reports stock options in Fidelity Healthcare Technology. No other potential conflicts of interest were disclosed.

• https://8949755.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/8949755/User%20Manual/Bivona%20TTS%20Neonatal%20and%20Pediatric%20Trach%20Tube%20Instruction%20PKG-DFU-PNT-2%20Rev004%2009_13%20(007).pdf

† 45 C.F.R. part 46, 21 C.F.R. part 56; 42 U.S.C. Sect. 241(d); 5 U.S.C. Sect. 552a; 44 U.S.C. Sect. 3501 et seq.

§ First-catch samples were collected before aerator removal and occurred before the water outlet being sampled was used. Post-flush samples were collected after letting the water run for 5 minutes.

¶ EPA standards for safe drinking water are a heterotrophic plate count ≤500 colony-forming units/mL.

References

• Lee MR, Sheng WH, Hung CC, Yu CJ, Lee LN, Hsueh PR. Mycobacterium abscessus complex infections in humans. Emerg Infect Dis 2015;21:1638–46. https://doi.org/10.3201/2109.141634 PMID:26295364
• CDC. Developing a water management program to reduce Legionella growth and spread in buildings. Atlanta, GA: US Department of Health and Human Services, CDC; 2021. https://www.cdc.gov/legionella/downloads/toolkit.pdf
• Environmental Protection Agency. 2018 edition of the drinking water standards and health advisories: EPA 822-F-18–001. Washington, DC: US Environmental Protection Agency; 2012. https://www.epa.gov/system/files/documents/2022-01/dwtable2018.pdf

• HPCs measure carbon-consuming microorganisms in water and can be used to assess conditions affecting microbial growth in a water source or distribution system. HPCs were performed on paired first-catch and post-flush water samples only. HPCs were not performed on swab samples.
  † HPCs are reported as CFUs per mL and provide an estimate of the total number of viable organisms in a sample. Environmental Protection Agency standards for safe drinking water are HPC ≤500 CFU/mL.
  § Selective medium was used to culture and isolate the target organism or species, and no presumptive NTM growth was found in the environmental sample.

Where this page came from

This page was imported from Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Material produced by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is a work of the United States government and is in the public domain.

Nobody has written it yet — it is the source material at a new address, which is why search engines are asked to skip it and why no one earns from it. It is up for grabs: take it on, and it is yours to rewrite and to earn from.