IngentaConnect Are bulb syringe irrigators a potential source of bacterial conta...

Authors: Williams, Glenn B.¹; Ross, Linda L.²; Chandra, Rakesh K.³

Source: American Journal of Rhinology, Volume 22, Number 4, July/August 2008 , pp. 399-401(3)

Publisher: OceanSide Publications, Inc

Abstract:

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine if bulb syringe irrigators are a potential source for bacterial contamination in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis.

Methods: Standard 3-oz bulb syringe irrigators (n = 24) were each flushed with the following solutions twice daily: A (n = 8), sterile isotonic saline; B (n = 8), prepared hypertonic saline (3 tsp table salt/L of sterile water); and C (n = 8), prepared baking soda/saline (1 tsp table salt + 1 tsp baking soda/L of commercial sterile water). Syringes were stored on a residential bathroom counter, and two from each group were harvested for culture weekly for 4 weeks.

Results: There was no growth from syringes irrigated with any of the three solutions after the first 7 days of irrigation. After the entire 4-week study period, potential pathogens were recovered from 6/8 (75%) bulbs from group A, 0/8 bulbs from group B, and 1/8 bulbs (12.5%) from group C. All positive cultures revealed growth by 1-2 days postinoculation (p = 0.002). The organism recovered from syringes in group A was Pseudomonas fluorescens in all six specimens. The one positive culture in group C represented a single colony of Gram-positive cocci.

Conclusion: Under realistic conditions, bulb syringes are susceptible to contamination with potential bacterial pathogens, particularly when using unbuffered isotonic saline.

Keywords: Bulb syringe; chronic rhinosinusitis; contamination; Gram-negative; microbiology; nasal irrigation; Pseudomonas; saline; sinus irrigation; sinusitis

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.2500/ajr.2008.22.3193

Affiliations: 1: From the Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, Memphis, Tennessee, 2: Department of Clinical Laboratory Sciences, University of Tennessee Health Science Center, College of Allied Health Sciences, Memphis, Tennessee, and 3: Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois

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Are bulb syringe irrigators a potential source of bacterial contamination in chronic rhinosinusitis?