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.
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.