Pseudo-outbreak of Parengyodontium album related to contaminated saline used in specimen processing in the microbiology laboratory

Am J Infect Control. 2024 Sep;52(9):1099-1101. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2024.05.016. Epub 2024 May 31.

Abstract

We report a cluster of 9 isolates of Parengyodontium album recovered from 4 patients who had surgical tissue specimens processed after dilution with a multiuse diluent saline solution. P album was also identified from a nonclinical sample on agar prepared with the same lot number of saline solution. Our epidemiological investigation revealed this to represent a pseudo-outbreak related to contaminated saline used to process specimens in the microbiology laboratory.

Keywords: Fungal contamination; Mold; Outbreak investigation; Surgical tissue contamination.

MeSH terms

  • Disease Outbreaks*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Saline Solution
  • Specimen Handling / methods

Substances

  • Saline Solution