Minimising the risk of cross infection between siblings with cystic fibrosis (CF) within the home: Successful domestic steam disinfection of CF bacterial and foodborne pathogens on common household cutlery and crockery utensils

Abstract

Avoidance of cross infection is important between CF siblings living in the same household. In this study, we examined the ability of domestic steam disinfection to eradicate 16 species of CF bacterial and foodborne pathogens from the surface of contaminated crockery and cutlery. Domestic steam disinfection employing baby bottle disinfector devices, when performed properly under manufacturer's instructions, eradicated all organisms tested and offers a relatively inexpensive, simple, versatile and widely available technology for the elimination of common CF bacterial and foodborne pathogens from contaminated crockery and cutlery utensils. Most CF households may already have a baby bottle disinfector device, in order to disinfect nebulizers, respiratory equipment and toothbrushes and therefore employment of this device to disinfect crockery and cutlery would be easily achieved. We therefore advocate the employment of such devices to disinfect such common household utensils, as a critical control in the elimination of these organisms from these sources, thereby enhancing CF sibling safety.

Keywords: Bacterial pathogen; Crockery; Cutlery; Cystic fibrosis; Disinfection; Sibling.