Environmental contamination by multidrug-resistant microorganisms after daily cleaning

Am J Infect Control. 2015 Jul 1;43(7):776-8. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2015.03.009. Epub 2015 Apr 20.

Abstract

We analyzed 91 samples of high-touch surfaces obtained within the first hour after daily cleaning in intensive care unit rooms occupied with patients with multidrug-resistant organisms (MDROs). We determined that 22% of high-touch surfaces in rooms with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus patients and 5% of high-touch surfaces in rooms with multiresistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa patients were colonized with the same strain as the patient. We postulated that textile cleaning wipes could be contaminated with MDROs and may contribute to its spreading within the room.

Keywords: Cleaning; Cross-transmission; Multidrug-resistant microorganisms.

MeSH terms

  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Drug Resistance, Multiple, Bacterial*
  • Environmental Microbiology*
  • Environmental Pollution*
  • Housekeeping, Hospital / methods*
  • Humans
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / drug effects
  • Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / isolation & purification*
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / drug effects
  • Pseudomonas aeruginosa / isolation & purification*