Surface microbial contamination in hospitals: A pilot study on methods of sampling and the use of proposed microbiologic standards

Tânia Claro; Marese O'Reilly; Stephen Daniels; Hilary Humphreys

doi:10.1016/j.ajic.2015.05.009

Surface microbial contamination in hospitals: A pilot study on methods of sampling and the use of proposed microbiologic standards

Am J Infect Control. 2015 Sep 1;43(9):1000-2. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2015.05.009. Epub 2015 Jun 14.

Authors

Tânia Claro¹, Marese O'Reilly¹, Stephen Daniels², Hilary Humphreys³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Clinical Microbiology, Education and Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
² National Centre for Plasma Science and Technology, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
³ Department of Clinical Microbiology, Education and Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Microbiology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: hhumphreys@rcsi.ie.

PMID: 26082261
DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2015.05.009

Abstract

Contamination of hospital surfaces by bacteria is increasingly recognized. We assessed commonly touched surfaces using contact plates and Petrifilms (3M, St. Paul, MN) and compared the results against proposed microbiology standards. Toilet door handles were the most heavily contaminated (7.97 ± 0.68 colony forming units [CFU]/cm(2)) and exceeded proposed standards on 74% of occasions. Petrifilms detected statistically higher CFU from bedside lockers. Further research is required on the use of standards and methods of sampling.

Keywords: Contact plates; Environmental contamination; Hospital surfaces; Hygiene standards; Petrifilms.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Bacteria / isolation & purification*
Colony Count, Microbial
Cross Infection / prevention & control*
Environmental Microbiology*
Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / microbiology
Hospitals
Humans
Hygiene / standards*
Patients' Rooms
Pilot Projects