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Appl Environ Microbiol. 1973 October; 26(4): 521-524
Copyright © 1973 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.

Rapid Detection of Contaminated Intravenous Fluids Using the Limulus In Vitro Endotoxin Assay

James H. Jorgensen1 and Rodney F. Smith

Division of Microbiology, Shriners Burns Institute, Galveston, Texas 77550
Department of Microbiology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77550

ABSTRACT

Intravenous fluids and administration sets may become contaminated with gram-negative bacteria during use and result in a life-threatening situation to the patient. The Limulus in vitro assay for endotoxin was used in two patients whose parenteral fluids had become contaminated with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. This test allowed rapid detection of the contaminated intravenous fluids and demonstrated a concomitant endotoxemia in both patients. The same strains of pseudomon were subsequently cultured from each patient's blood, intravenous catheter tip, and parenteral fluid and administration set. A different serotype of pseudomonas was unique to each patient, indicating two separate and unrelated cases of accidental contamination of the administration sets. Endotoxin-like activity was also demonstrated from several brands of commercial human serum albumin, which may contribute low-level activity detectable by the Limulus assay.

FOOTNOTES

1 Present address: Department of Pathology, The University of Texas Medical School at San Antonio, San Antonio, Tex. 78229.

Appl Environ Microbiol. 1973 October; 26(4): 521-524
Copyright © 1973 American Society for Microbiology. All Rights Reserved.





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Copyright © 1973 by the American Society for Microbiology. All rights reserved.