GMS. Hygiene and infection control
Current infection control measures regarding Heater Cooler Units (HCU) in Germany after the mycobacteria chimaera outbreak 2014–2026
By Sebastian Schulz-Stübner.
Abstract
Introduction
The 2014–2016 outbreak of cardiac surgery–associated infections with non-tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) linked to heater-cooler units (HCUs) led to widespread implementation of environmental monitoring and technical/organizational control measures in Germany. We aimed to describe current infection prevention practices, with a focus on ongoing water and air surveillance related to HCUs in German cardiac surgery centres.
Method
An anonymous online survey was distributed to directors of all German cardiac surgery departments by the Deutsche Gesellschaft für Thorax-, Herz- und Gefäßchirurgie e.V. (DGTHG). The survey collected administrative information on procedure volumes, HCU types and placement, disinfection practices, and the use and frequency of routine microbiological water sampling for NTM and air sampling in the operating room. No patient-level data were collected.