This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrowReprints and Permissions
Right arrow Copyright Information
Right arrow Books from ASM Press
Right arrow MicrobeWorld
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Laurel, V. L.
Right arrow Articles by Rinaldi, M. G.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Laurel, V. L.
Right arrow Articles by Rinaldi, M. G.

 Previous Article  |  Next Article 

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 1999, p. 1612-1616, Vol. 37, No. 5
0095-1137/99/$04.00+0

Pseudoepidemic of Aspergillus niger Infections Traced to Specimen Contamination in the Microbiology Laboratory

Valerie L. Laurel,1,* Patricia A. Meier,1,2 Alicia Astorga,2 Donna Dolan,2 Royce Brockett,2 and Michael G. Rinaldi3

Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine,1 and Department of Microbiology,2 Wilford Hall Medical Center, San Antonio, Texas 78236, and Pathology and Laboratory Medicine Services, Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Affairs Hospital, San Antonio, Texas 782843

Received 21 September 1998/Returned for modification 26 October 1998/Accepted 13 February 1999

We report a pseudo-outbreak of Aspergillus niger that followed building construction in our clinical microbiology laboratory. Because outbreaks of invasive aspergillosis have been linked to hospital construction, strategies to minimize dust in patient care areas are common practice. We illustrate that the impact of false-positive cultures on patient care should compel laboratories to prevent specimen contamination during construction.

* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Wilford Hall Medical Center, 2200 Bergquist Dr., Suite 1, MMII, Lackland AFB, TX 78236-5300. Phone: (210) 292-7444. Fax: (210) 292-3740. E-mail: laurel{at}whmc.af.mil.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology, May 1999, p. 1612-1616, Vol. 37, No. 5
0095-1137/99/$04.00+0




Copyright © 2009 by the American Society for Microbiology.   For an alternate route to Journals.ASM.org, visit: http://intl-journals.asm.org | More Info»