title: An in-use evaluation of decontamination of polypropylene versus steel bedpans.
abstract: A prospective cross-over study in three different wards has demonstrated the lack of effect of two disinfectants compared with a detergent when added to the washing cycle of automatic bedpan washers that employ hot water centrally supplied at 60 degrees C. An unexpected and potentially important finding was that polypropylene pans were much more effectively cleaned and decontaminated than their stainless steel counterparts. The role, if any, of bedpans in the epidemiology of nosocomial infections remains a mystery. The continued absence of information clearly incriminating these ubiquitous devices in the transmission of potential pathogens, or of genes encoding antibacterial drug resistance, raises questions as to whether extensive efforts to achieve a high degree of decontamination of bedpans are necessary at all.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Chaim Sheba Medical Centre, Tel Hashomer, Israel.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Block
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Baron
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bogokowski
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Amit
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Rubenstein
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards*; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D005069:Evaluation Studies as Topic; D006801:Humans; D011126:Polypropylenes / Q000592:standards*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013193:Stainless Steel / Q000592:standards*; D014038:Toilet Facilities / Q000592:standards*
chemical_list: D011126:Polypropylenes; D013193:Stainless Steel