Background: Hospital reservoirs of Achromobacter xylosoxidans, responsible for nosocomial infections, are poorly known.
Methods: We examined the growth, survival and biofilm formation of five A. xylosoxidans strains for up to 2 y in distilled, dialysis or microfiltered water. Each strain was inoculated at 102 CFU/ml without adding nutrients.
Results: All strains grew at a level of 3x103 to 1.5x107 CFU/ml; each strain showed a preferred water type. Strains isolated from quaternary ammoniums showed the highest ability to grow and form biofilms in nutrient-poor waters.
Conclusion: Medical waters and notably sterile distilled water bottles appear to be long-lasting reservoirs of A. xylosoxidans.
Keywords: Achromobacter xylosoxidans; biofilms; growth; hospital; medical waters; survival.
© The Author(s) 2020. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene.