10th International Aerosol Conference
September 2 - September 7, 2018
America's Center Convention Complex
St. Louis, Missouri, USA

Abstract View

Technical Considerations for Device Mediated Airborne Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) Infections

SUVAJYOTI GUHA, Jon Weeks, Katharine Segars, Wolloscheck David, Ryan Fung, Delya Delavary, Kelly Bauer, Elaine Mayhall, Nicole Gillette, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, CDRH

Abstract Number: 1539
Working Group: Bioaerosols

Abstract
Nontuberculous Mycobacteria (NTM) are waterborne opportunistic pathogens that are routinely found in water sources of hospitals and households. The prevalence of NTM associated infections is on the rise in the United States (U.S.). A review of the Medical Device Reporting (MDR) database of Center for Devices and Radiological Health within U.S. Food and Drug Administration found 253 MDRs identifying the presence of NTM in heater cooler devices (HCDs),¹ which are regularly used during certain surgeries to control the patient’s temperature. Although the prevalence of NTM infections is increasing, only limited research has been conducted on device mediated airborne transmission.

Bacteria in general can aerosolize in a variety of ways – nebulization, ultrasonication and bubbling are common. Each of these modes can create different stresses on the bacterial cell walls. Specifically, for different subspecies of NTM, basic information such as size, shape, hydrophobicity, cell properties, sensitivity to relative humidity etc. is lacking. It is also not known how these factors can influence the aerosolization potential, culturability, and viability across different NTM subspecies.

This presentation will focus on two objectives: a) comparison of different modes and their influence on the aerosolization potential, and b) differences in aerosolization potential between non-biological surrogates and NTM. Our preliminary findings suggest bubbling is an effective mode of aerosolization with limited impact on NTM viability and culturability.

Reference
[1] Allen, et al. Nontuberculous Mycobacterium Infections Associated with Heater-Cooler Devices Used During Cardiothoracic Surgery: An Emerging Public Health Concern. Ann Thorac Surg 2017;104:1237–42.