Wis. hospital tap water contaminates lab specimens

The source of contaminated patient lab specimens at a Wisconsin hospital back to tap water in two ice machines and a water dispenser in the intensive care units, according to an article on the Infection Control Today website.

The water was contaminated with Mycobacterium porcinum, according to a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 

Health investigators with the Wisconsin State Laboratory of Hygiene and the hospital’s infection prevention team looked for possible breaches in infection control and lab processes. 

The CDC report concludes that hospital water management programs “should engage clinical partners to ensure safe water use as part of patient care and address maintenance of ice machines and water dispensers within their facilities.”

Read the article.