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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
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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

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