scholarly journals The stethoscope in the emergency department: a vector of infection?

2000 ◽  
Vol 124 (2) ◽  
pp. 233-237 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. NÚÑEZ ◽  
A. MORENO ◽  
K. GREEN ◽  
J. VILLAR
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Department ◽  
Bacterial Colonization ◽  
Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Enterobacter Agglomerans ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Potential Vector ◽  
Propyl Alcohol ◽  
Cleaning Methods ◽  
Hospital Wards ◽  
Potentially Pathogenic Microorganisms

The purposes of this study were to determine whether microorganisms can be isolated from the membranes of stethoscopes used by clinicians and nurses, and to analyse whether or not the degree of bacterial colonization could be reduced with different cleaning methods. We designed a transversal before-after study in which 122 stethoscopes were examined. Coagulase negative staphylococci (which are also potentially pathogenic microorganisms) were isolated together with 13 other potentially pathogenic microorganisms, including S. aureus, Acinetobacter sp. and Enterobacter agglomerans. The most effective antiseptic was propyl alcohol. Analysis of the cleaning habits of the Emergency Department (ED) staff, showed that 45% cleaned the stethoscope annually or never. The isolation of potentially pathogenic microorganisms suggests that the stethoscope must be considered as a potential vector of infection not only in the ED but also in other hospital wards and out-patient clinics.

Bacterial Contamination of Keyboards: Efficacy and Functional Impact of Disinfectants

2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 372-377 ◽  
Author(s):  
William A. Rutala ◽  
Matthew S. White ◽  
Maria F. Gergen ◽  
David J. Weber
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Contamination ◽  
Microbial Contamination ◽  
Healthcare Setting ◽  
Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Sterile Water ◽  
Water Control ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Test Organisms ◽  
Vancomycin Resistant ◽  
Potentially Pathogenic Microorganisms

Background.Computers are ubiquitous in the healthcare setting and have been shown to be contaminated with potentially pathogenic microorganisms. This study was performed to determine the degree of microbial contamination, the efficacy of different disinfectants, and the cosmetic and functional effects of the disinfectants on the computer keyboards.Methods.We assessed the effectiveness of 6 different disinfectants (1 each containing chlorine, alcohol, or phenol and 3 containing quaternary ammonium) against 3 test organisms (oxacillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [ORSA], Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus species) inoculated onto study computer keyboards. We also assessed the computer keyboards for functional and cosmetic damage after disinfectant use.Results.Potential pathogens cultured from more than 50% of the computers included coagulase-negative staphylococci (100% of keyboards), diphtheroids (80%), Micrococcus species (72%), and Bacillus species (64%). Other pathogens cultured included ORSA (4% of keyboards), OSSA (4%), vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus species (12%), and nonfermentative gram-negative rods (36%). All disinfectants, as well as the sterile water control, were effective at removing or inactivating more than 95% of the test bacteria. No functional or cosmetic damage to the computer keyboards was observed after 300 disinfection cycles.Conclusions.Our data suggest that microbial contamination of keyboards is prevalent and that keyboards may be successfully decontaminated with disinfectants. Keyboards should be disinfected daily or when visibly soiled or if they become contaminated with blood.

Nasopharyngeal bacterial flora before and after adenoidectomy

1989 ◽  
Vol 103 (4) ◽  
pp. 372-374 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. M. Talaat ◽  
Y. S. Bahgat ◽  
E. El-Ghazzawy ◽  
S. Elwany
Keyword(s):  
Bacterial Colonization ◽  
Bacterial Flora ◽  
Physiological Effect ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Columbia Blood Agar ◽  
Before And After ◽  
Nasopharyngeal Bacterial Flora ◽  
Notable Increase ◽  
Potentially Pathogenic Microorganisms

AbstractFifty patients (23 males and 27 females), with chronically hypertrophied and infected adenoids were subjected to adenoidectomy. Pre- and post-operative nasopharyngeal swabs were taken to study bacterial colonization of the nasopharynx both quantitatively and qualitatively. Twenty healthy controls were included in this study. The swabs were cultured on MacConkey's and Columbia blood agar plates. The rate of isolation of potentially pathogenic microorganisms decreased markedly following operation, while normal inhabitant organisms showed notable increase in their numbers post-operatively to reach a near normal level. It is concluded from this work that adenoidectomy produces a physiological effect on the nasopharyngeal microflora by conversion of an abnormal flora to a nearly normal one.

Antimicrobial resistance and ability to form biofilm of coagulase-negative staphylococci isolated from touch surfaces in Polish hospital wards

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 (2) ◽  
pp. 73-78
Author(s):  
Małgorzata Bulanda ◽  
Edyta Synowiec ◽  
Agnieszka Chmielarczyk ◽  
Dorota Romaniszyn ◽  
Anna Różańska
Keyword(s):  
Antimicrobial Resistance ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Hospital Wards

Environmental organisms from different hospital wards

2002 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 10-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
S Dancer ◽  
J Raeside ◽  
M Boothma
Keyword(s):  
The Elderly ◽  
Antibiotic Consumption ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Chi Square ◽  
Gram Negative ◽  
Defined Daily Doses ◽  
High Dependency ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Bacillus Spp ◽  
Hospital Wards

T hree clinical wards in the same hospital, High Dependency (HDU), Care of the Elderly (CE) and Acute Psychiatry (AP), were screened for environmental organisms. The screening programme ran for four weeks and targeted comparable sites from all three units. Floor areas were similar, as were staffing levels, cleaning schedules, infection control policies and patient numbers. Organisms such as coagulase-negative staphylococci, Bacillus spp., coliforms, oxidase-positive Gram-negative bacilli, Clostridium difficile, enterococci, various fungi and Staphylococcus aureus were isolated. Staphylococci and Gram-negative bacilli were tested against clinically appropriate antibiotics. There was little variation in diversity or density of organisms from any of the wards, except for significant differences in antibiotic susceptibilities of the organisms (P<0.0001 HDU v AP, P=0.0057 CE v AP and P=0.0365 HDU v CE). From HDU, 49% (of 43) isolates were resistant to four or more antibiotics and from CE, 37% (of 54) isolates were resistant to four or more. From AP, just 2% (of 52) were resistant to four or more antibiotics. 9% HDU organisms were fully susceptible, as compared with 20% of those from CE and 27% from AP. Antibiotic data (in Defined Daily Doses (g)/100 bed-days) showed that HDU consumed over 12 times more antibiotics than CE, which in turn consumed twice as much as AP; these were mostly intravenous broad-spectrum agents for HDU, as opposed to oral preparations for the other two wards (Chi-square for each ward for linear trends by level of antibiotic intake were all P<0.0001). It was concluded that the only significant difference between environmental bacteria from wards of varying specialities in this hospital is their resistance to antibiotics. Heavy use of antibiotics in a hospital unit, as demonstrated by antibiotic consumption data, may be associated with increased antibiotic resistance in environmental organisms originating from that unit.

Effective Purification of Water from Iron Ions and Potentially Pathogenic Microorganisms Using a Montmorillonite Composite Sorbent

2018 ◽  
Vol 92 (9) ◽  
pp. 1806-1812
Author(s):  
A. I. Vezentsev ◽  
V. A. Peristiy ◽  
V. D. Bukhanov ◽  
L. F. Peristaya ◽  
P. V. Sokolovskiy ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Iron Ions ◽  
Composite Sorbent ◽  
Potentially Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Purification Of Water

scholarly journals Assessment of Postvaccine Immunity against Streptococcus pneumoniae in Patients with Asplenia, including an Analysis of Its Impact on Bacterial Flora of the Upper Respiratory Tract and Incidence of Infections

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Alina Olender ◽  
Katarzyna Małkińska ◽  
Jacek Roliński ◽  
Ewelina Grywalska ◽  
Elżbieta Pels ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Respiratory Tract ◽  
Bacterial Flora ◽  
Carrier State ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Upper Respiratory Tract ◽  
Specific Antibodies ◽  
Positive Effects ◽  
Upper Respiratory ◽  
Potentially Pathogenic Microorganisms

S. pneumoniae is a microorganism that may cause a serious threat in postsplenectomy patients due to a potentially invasive course of infection. In order to assess a protective activity after vaccination with the 23-valent vaccine, we made an analysis of the level of antibodies in patients with asplenia compared to a control group of healthy donors. Additionally, colonization by potentially pathogenic microorganisms of the upper respiratory tract was analyzed to determine the carrier state by strains with vaccine serotype. No such strains were found in the research, yet three non-vaccine-serotype strains were found. Colonization of the upper respiratory tract by potentially pathogenic microorganisms may be connected with increased susceptibility observed and incidence of infections in patients with asplenia. However, colonization by S. pneumoniae may not have an effect on the level of specific antibodies with the 23-valent vaccine against S. pneumoniae (PPV23) in postsplenectomy patients and healthy people. The response to vaccination against S. pneumoniae showed a lower level of specific antibodies in patients with splenectomy performed more than 2 years before the test than in patients with a recently removed spleen, i.e., from 1 month to 2 years before the test. Vaccination against pneumococci also has positive effects on incidence of other etiology infections, which is of high significance in the prophylaxis of infectious diseases in this group of patients.

Blood Pressure Cuff as a Potential Vector of Pathogenic Microorganisms A Prospective Study in a Teaching Hospital

2006 ◽  
Vol 27 (9) ◽  
pp. 940-943 ◽  
Author(s):  
C. de Gialluly ◽  
V. Morange ◽  
E. de Gialluly ◽  
J. Loulergue ◽  
N. van der Mee ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Prospective Study ◽  
Bacterial Infections ◽  
Pathogenic Bacteria ◽  
University Hospital ◽  
Pathogenic Microorganisms ◽  
Hospital Units ◽  
High Level ◽  
A Prospective Study ◽  
Potentially Pathogenic Microorganisms

Objective.To investigate the potential role of blood pressure (BP) cuffs in the spread of bacterial infections in hospitals.Design.A comprehensive, prospective study quantitatively and qualitatively evaluating the bacterial contamination on BP cuffs of 203 sphygmomanometers in use in 18 hospital units from January through March 2003.Setting.A university hospital with surgical, medical, and pediatric units.Results.A level of contamination reaching 100 or more colony-forming units per 25 cm2was observed on 92 (45%) of inner sides and 46 (23%) of outer sides of 203 cuffs. The highest rates of contamination occurred on the inner side of BP cuffs kept in intensive care units (ICUs) (20 [83%] of 24) or on nurses' trolleys (27 [77%] of 35). None of the 18 BP cuffs presumed to be clean (ie, those that had not been used since the last decontamination procedure) had a high level of contamination. Potentially pathogenic microorganisms were isolated from 27 (13%) of the 203 BP cuffs: 20 of these microorganisms wereStaphylococcus aureus, including 9 methicillin-resistant strains. The highest rates of contamination with potentially pathogenic microorganisms were observed on cuffs used in ICUs and those kept on nurses' trolleys. For 4 patients with a personal sphygmomanometer, a genetic link was found between the strains isolated from the BP cuffs and the strains isolated from the patients.Conclusions.The results of this survey highlight the importance of recognizing BP cuffs as potential vectors of pathogenic bacteria among patients and as a source of reinfection when dedicated to a single patient, emphasizing the urgent need for validated procedures for their use and maintenance.

Bacterial Colonization of the Skin Following Aseptic Preoperative Preparation and Impact of the Use of Plastic Adhesive Drapes

2012 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 242-248 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karin Falk-Brynhildsen ◽  
Örjan Friberg ◽  
Bo Söderquist ◽  
Ulrica G. Nilsson
Keyword(s):  
Sampling Method ◽  
Bacterial Colonization ◽  
Surgical Team ◽  
Preoperative Preparation ◽  
Coagulase Negative Staphylococci ◽  
Established Method ◽  
Wound Contamination ◽  
Skin Flora ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Chlorhexidine Solution

Surgical site contamination, for example, with coagulase-negative staphylococci, probably derives from both the patient’s own skin flora and those of the surgical team. Despite preoperative antiseptic preparation with chlorhexidine solution, complete sterilization of the skin is not possible and gradual recolonization will occur. Plastic adhesive drape is an established method used to prevent direct wound contamination from adjacent skin. In this study, the time to skin recolonization after antiseptic preparation was measured and the impact of using plastic adhesive drape on this recolonization was evaluated. Repeated bacterial sampling using three different methods over 6 hr was conducted after antiseptic preparation in 10 volunteers. Recolonization of skin was observed after 30 min with plastic drape and after 60 min without plastic drape; there were significantly more positive cultures with the plastic drape than without (31% vs. 7.5%, respectively, p < .001). Sampling with a rayon swab was the most sensitive sampling method. In conclusion, covering the skin with a plastic adhesive drape seems to hasten recolonization of the skin after antiseptic preparation. However, clinical trials to confirm this finding are warranted.

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