This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Copyright Information Books from ASM Press MicrobeWorld Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bottone, E J Articles by Perez, A A Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bottone, E J Articles by Perez, A A, 2nd

Pseudomonas aeruginosa folliculitis acquired through use of a contaminated loofah sponge: an unrecognized potential public health problem.

Clinical Microbiology Laboratories, Mount Sinai Hospital, New York, New York 10029-6574.

ABSTRACT

Pseudomonas aeruginosa folliculitis is a well-known entity that occurs among users of closed-cycle recreational water sources such as whirlpools, swimming pools, and hot tubs. In the absence of this epidemiologic link, isolated cases are difficult to diagnose. We encountered a patient who developed P. aeruginosa folliculitis subsequent to the use of a loofah sponge grossly contaminated with the same P. aeruginosa strain (serotype 10; pyocin type 1/a 4,b) that was recovered from her skin lesions. Furthermore, we demonstrated that sterile unused loofah sponges can serve as the sole growth-promoting substrate for P. aeruginosa. To obviate the potential public health problem of contaminated loofah sponges, it is strongly recommended that manufacturers append, and consumers adhere to, instructions as to the care of loofah sponges, which includes allowing the sponge to dry after use.

This article has been cited by other articles:

• Munson, E. L., Pfaller, M. A., Doern, G. V. (2002). Modification of Dienes Mutual Inhibition Test for Epidemiological Characterization of Pseudomonas aeruginosa Isolates. J. Clin. Microbiol. 40: 4285-4288 [Abstract] [Full Text]