Contamination of hands with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus after contact with environmental surfaces and after contact with the skin of colonized patients

Usha Stiefel; Jennifer L Cadnum; Brittany C Eckstein; Dubert M Guerrero; Mary Ann Tima; Curtis J Donskey

doi:10.1086/657944

Contamination of hands with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus after contact with environmental surfaces and after contact with the skin of colonized patients

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 2011 Feb;32(2):185-7. doi: 10.1086/657944.

Authors

Usha Stiefel¹, Jennifer L Cadnum, Brittany C Eckstein, Dubert M Guerrero, Mary Ann Tima, Curtis J Donskey

Affiliation

¹ Research Service, Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio, USA.

PMID: 21460476
DOI: 10.1086/657944

Abstract

In a study of 40 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) carriers, hand contamination was equally likely after contact with commonly examined skin sites and commonly touched environmental surfaces in patient rooms (40% vs 45%). These findings suggest that contaminated surfaces may be an important source of MRSA transmission.

Publication types

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

MeSH terms

Carrier State / microbiology
Cross Infection / microbiology*
Cross Infection / prevention & control
Cross Infection / transmission*
Disinfectants / administration & dosage
Environmental Microbiology
Equipment Contamination
Female
Gloves, Protective / microbiology*
Hand / microbiology*
Hospitals, Veterans
Humans
Male
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification*
Sodium Hypochlorite / administration & dosage
Staphylococcal Infections / prevention & control
Staphylococcal Infections / transmission*

Substances

Disinfectants
Sodium Hypochlorite