Source and Significance of Pseudomonas aeruginosa in Sputum

An increased incidence ofPseudomonas aeruginosain sputum of debilitated patients, many of whom required endotracheal suctioning, led to an investigation of the source and significance of these bacteria. Cultures of aseptically collected tracheal aspirates and solutions used for rinsing suction catheters, together with bacteriophage typing of thePseudomonasstrains recovered, showed that the majority of patients were being contaminated withPseudomonasgrowing in the catheter rinse solutions. Half of the patients who acquiredPseudomonasin their tracheas were believed to have clinically significantPseudomonasinfection. Tracheal suctioning should be conducted with rigid aseptic care and the techniques now widely used need thorough revision.