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Acquisition of Nosocomial Pathogens on Hands After Contact With Environmental Surfaces Near Hospitalized Patients

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

Anita Bhalla ,
Nicole J. Pultz ,
Delores M. Gries ,
Amy J. Ray ,
Elizabeth C. Eckstein ,
David C. Aron  and
Curtis J. Donskey
Anita Bhalla
Affiliation:
Infectious Diseases Division, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Cleveland, Ohio
Nicole J. Pultz
Affiliation:
Infectious Diseases Section, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Delores M. Gries
Affiliation:
Department of Pediatrics, Madigan Army Medical Center, Tacoma, Washington, Cleveland, Ohio
Amy J. Ray
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, University Hospitals of Cleveland
Elizabeth C. Eckstein
Affiliation:
Infection Control Department, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
David C. Aron
Affiliation:
Center for Quality Improvement Research, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Curtis J. Donskey*
Affiliation:
Infectious Diseases Section, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio Infection Control Department, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
*
Infectious Diseases Section, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, OH 4410
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Abstract

We examined the frequency of acquisition of bacterial pathogens on investigators' hands after contacting environmental surfaces near hospitalized patients. Hand imprint cultures were positive for one or more pathogens after contacting surfaces near 34 (53%) of 64 study patients, with Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus being the most common isolates.

Type
Concise Communications
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 25 , Issue 2 , February 2004 , pp. 164 - 167
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2004

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