Hostname: page-component-77c89778f8-vpsfw Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-07-24T12:19:55.014Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Pool-Associated Pseudomonas aeruginosa Dermatitis and Other Bathing-Associated Infections

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Jay A. Jacobson
Jay A. Jacobson*
Affiliation:
LDS Hospital andUniversity of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, Utah
*
Division of Infectious Disease, LDS Hospital, 325 Eighth Avenue, Salt Lake City, UT 84143
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

The growing popularity of heated pools, especially whirlpools and hot tubs, has been accompanied by increasingly frequent oubreaks of an illness produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The illness usually includes folliculitis, pruritic skin rash, and/or otitis externa and occasionally mastitis and systemic symptoms. Although usually self-limited, rare severe cases have been described. Motel and hotel whirlpools are most often implicated as the source of outbreaks. The relative importance of pool conditions and the bacteriology of P. aeruginosa in the pathogenesis of this illness remain to be elucidated. Implementing CDC Guidelines for public spas and hot tubs seem the most reasonable way of reducing the risk of large outbreaks. Prevention of cases arising from home hot tubs or whirlpools will be very difficult and may depend on extensive public education or the development of simple, inexpensive and effective disinfection systems.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 6 , Issue 10 , October 1985 , pp. 398 - 401
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1985

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Lyons, AS, Petrucelli, RJ: Medicine. An Illustrated History. New York, Harry N. Abrams, 1978.Google Scholar
2. Bettmann, OL: A Pictorial History of Medicine. Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas, 1956.Google Scholar
3. Hall, JH, Callaway, JL, Tinball, JP, et al: Pseudomonas aeruginosa in dermatology. Arch Dermatol 1968;97:312–324.Google Scholar
4. Amonette, RA, Rosenberg, EW: Infection of toe webs by Gram-negative bacteria. Arch Dermatol 1973;107:71–73.Google Scholar
5. Hoadley, AW, Knight, DE: External otitis among swimmers and nonswimmers. Arch Environ Health 1975;30:445–448.Google Scholar
6. Hojyo-Tomoka, MT, Marples, RR, Kligman, AM: Pseudomonas infection in superhydrated skin. Arch Dermatol 1973;107:723–727.Google Scholar
7. McCausland, WJ, Cox, PJ: Pseudomonas infection traced to motel whirlpool. Journal of Environmental Health 1975;37:455–459.Google Scholar
8. Gustafson, TL, Band, JD, Hutcheson, RH Jr et al: Pseudomonas folliculitis: An outbreak and review. Rev Infect Dis 1983;5:1–8.Google Scholar
9. Salmen, P, Dwyer, DM, Vorse, H, et al: Whirlpool-associated Pseudomonas aeruginosa urinary tract infections. JAMA 1983;250:2025–2026.Google Scholar
10. Rose, HD, Franson, TR, Sheth, NK, et al: Pseudomonas pneumonia associated with use of a home whirlpool spa. JAMA 1983;250:2027–2029.Google Scholar
11. Spitalny, KC, Vogt, RL, Witherell, LE: National survey on outbreaks associated with whirlpool baths. Abstracts of Epidemic Intelligence Service Conference, Centers for Disease Control, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 1983;41.Google Scholar
12. Jacobson, JA, Hoadley, AW, Farmerr, JJ III: Pseudomonas aeruginosa serogroup 11 and pool-associated skin rash. Am J Public Health 1980;70:279–281.Google Scholar
13. Leyden, JL, McGinley, KJ, Mills, OH: Pseudomonos aeruginosa Gram-negative folliculitis. Arch Dermnatol 1979;115:1203–1204.Google Scholar
14. Centers for Disease Control. An outbreak of Pseudomonas folliculitis associated with a waterslide—Utah. MMWR 1983;32:425–427.Google Scholar
15. Kush, BJ, Hoadley, AW: A preliminary survey of the association of Pseudomonas aeruginosa with commercial whirlpool bath waters. Am J Public Health 1980;70:279–281.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16. Seyfried, PL, Fraser, DJ: Persistence of Pseudomonos aeruginosa in chlorinated swimming pools. Can J Microbiol 1980;26:350–355.Google Scholar