Pseudomonas cepacia strains isolated from water reservoirs of unheated nebulizers.

Pseudomonas cepacia strains were isolated from the water reservoirs of unheated nebulizers in a hospital setting. The isolates were characterized by morphology, biochemical tests, and antibiotic susceptibility patterns. An interesting feature of these organisms was their capacity for sustained multiplication in either doubly deionized or doubly distilled water as well as 5% dextrose or 0.9% saline. They could not multiply in doubly deionized and then doubly distilled water or in any of several parenteral nutrition solutions studied. Isolation of Pseudomonas cepacia from the water reservoirs of unheated nebulizers suggests that this equipment may serve as a source of respiratory tract exposure to the organism.