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Pseudomonas
- Question
- We have received an antibiotic drug, which has to be mixed togehter by us with water for our CF son. He has to take it for 14 days. In how far is there a risk, that Pseudomonas grow in the preparation within those 14 days?
- Answer
- Dear questioner,
I assume from your question that the antibiotic (dry formulation for suspension) should be administered as a suspension and for this it has to be solved in tap water resp. has to be suspended. Some substances are than stored until the end of the therapy in the fridge at 2-8°C, others are stored at room temperature. This is a common practice, in order to overcome in case of young children the intake of tablets or also the higher costs for the addition of sterile water. There are no objections in general agaist this procedure from the microbiological point of view.
As especially in CF certain potentially in the water existing humid germs count for the typical sources of infection, the case here has however to be regarded differently.
In general one can not be 100% sure that the tap water is free of P. aeruginosa. In spite of the fact that drinking water has to be free of P. aeruginosa according to the drinking water law (Germany), a subsequent contamination with this germ via the water conduit for example, can not be excluded. The used antibiotic drug is possibly itself not active against P. aeruginosa, so that a direct killing of possibly existing Pseudomonas bacteria can not be adduced. Furthermore it is known, that P. aeruginosa is still capable of multiplying also with only few nutrients (like e.g. as in tap water) at room temperature but also at temperatures down to 4°C. Exact data on your question is of course not available, as this play in general not a role. In case to prevent the risk of a contamination with P. aeruginosa in CF strictly, which is small but cannot be excluded, I would recommend in the future to use a suitable, sterile solution (e.g. sterile water) for preparing the antibiotic, which can be bought in the pharmacy.
Yours sincerely,
Michael Hogart - 07.12.2010
