In 2014, invasive Mycobacterium chimaera infection associated with use of heater-cooler devices during open-heart surgery was identified as a new disease entity. Infection with Mycobacterium chimaera, a slow-growing type of nontuberculous mycobacteria, tends to develop a long time (often more than a year) after the procedure, and because there is no established treatment, 50 percent of patients die. Heater-cooler devices help keep patients’ circulating blood and organs at a specific temperature during the procedure. The most likely cause of these infections is contamination of the heater-cooler devices from one manufacturing site.
To learn more about the extent of this worldwide epidemic, Sommerstein, et al. (2018) analyzed data from Switzerland, the leading country for recognizing and researching the outbreak. Their extrapolated findings indicated that there have been 156 to 282 new cases per year in the 10 countries that do the most heart valve replacement surgeries; 51 to 80 of these cases were in the United States. More cases might be found if researchers conducted a focused search in each country where this device has been used and if countries required reporting of invasive nontuberculous mycobacterial infections.
Reference: Sommerstein R, et al. Global Health Estimate of Invasive Mycobacterium chimaera Infections Associated with Heater-Cooler Devices in Cardiac Surgery. Emerging Infectious Diseases. Vol. 24, No. 3. 2018.
Source: CDC
Beyond the Surface: Rethinking Environmental Hygiene Validation at Exchange25
June 30th 2025Environmental hygiene is about more than just shiny surfaces. At Exchange25, infection prevention experts urged the field to look deeper, rethink blame, and validate cleaning efforts across the entire care environment, not just EVS tasks.
A Controversial Reboot: New Vaccine Panel Faces Scrutiny, Support, and Sharp Divides
June 26th 2025As the newly appointed Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) met for the first time under sweeping changes by HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr, the national spotlight turned to the panel’s legitimacy, vaccine guidance, and whether science or ideology would steer public health policy in a polarized era.
Getting Down and Dirty With PPE: Presentations at HSPA by Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski
June 26th 2025In the heart of the hospital, decontamination technicians tackle one of health care’s dirtiest—and most vital—jobs. At HSPA 2025, 6 packed workshops led by experts Jill Holdsworth and Katie Belski spotlighted the crucial, often-overlooked art of PPE removal. The message was clear: proper doffing saves lives, starting with your own.