from Redmond SN, Pearlmutter BS, Ng-Wong YK, Alhmidi H, Cadnum JL, Silva SY, Wilson BM, Donskey CJ 2021
published in Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 42: 1076-1081
DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa061115

Timing and route of contamination of hospitalized patient rooms with healthcare-associated pathogens.

Transfer of pathogens in health care settings from floors to patiens via socks, bedding, and high touch surfaces may be an underestimated problem.

Investigation of high-touch surfaces, floors, bedding as well as patient's socks and skin on microbial contamination. Cultures were collected in 17 rooms for 4 days and analysed for C. difficile, methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistent Enterococci (VRE). Microbial contamination was detected in 59% of the rooms. Interestingly, the initial site of pathogen recovery was the floor. Additional simulation tests showed that wearing slippers can reduce the transfer from pathogens from the floor to high-touch surfaces.

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