Patient room floors, sinks could be contaminated with bacteria

Infection risks may be overlooked by infection control efforts


A new study published in the American Journal of Infection Control says floors in patient rooms may be contaminated by bacteria, according to an article on the Fierce Healthcare website.

These pathogens — like methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) or Clostridium difficile — can be spread when items are dropped on the floor.

The study included C. difficile-isolated rooms, and researchers found floors were often tainted by bacteria, most commonly with MRSA, C. difficile and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), the article said. 

The study said that in 41 percent of these rooms, at least one high-touch object came in contact with the floor.

Read the article.

 



March 13, 2017


Topic Area: Infection Control


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