Abstract
BackgroundContaminated environmental surfaces contribute to transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens such as multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli. We hypothesized that medical procedures and patient care activities facilitate environmental dissemination of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli in hospitalized patients.MethodsWe conducted a cohort study of hospitalized patients in contact precautions for carriage of extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing or carbapenem-resistant gram-negative bacilli (CR-GNB) to determine the frequency of environmental shedding during procedures and care activities. Perirectal, wound, and skin were cultured for the gram-negative bacilli of interest. Prior to each procedure or activity, surfaces in the room and portable equipment used for procedures were disinfected. After procedures, high-touch surfaces and portable equipment were cultured; negative control cultures were collected after 1 hour in the absence of a procedure.ResultsOf 60 participants, 38 (63%) were in contact precautions for ESBL-producing gram-negative bacilli and 22 (37%) for CR-GNB. Thirty-four (57%) participants had positive perirectal, wound, or skin cultures. Contamination of surfaces with the colonizing multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli occurred frequently during procedures and activities such as wound care, assistance with meals, and urinary catheter or colostomy care (11% to 29% of procedures/activities), whereas contamination was rare in the absence of a procedure (1%). Contamination was recovered from 6 of 56 (10%) portable devices used for procedures.ConclusionEnvironmental shedding of multidrug-resistant gram-negative bacilli occurs frequently during medical and non-medical procedures in hospitalized patients. Our results suggest that there is a need for effective strategies to disinfect surfaces and equipment after procedures.Disclosures All authors: No reported disclosures.
Published Version (
Free)
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
