title: The microbiology and cleaning of thermoplastic splints in burn care.
abstract: The ability of thermoplastic splints to be a vehicle for the transfer of microorganisms from the burn wound was explored. Twenty splints were evaluated and 10 (50%) were found to have recoverable microorganisms immediately after being removed from the burn patient. Air drying for 10 minutes was not shown to be an effective method of removing contaminating microorganisms. A cleaning protocol using a quaternary ammonia solution proved to be 100% effective in removing microorganisms from thermoplastic splint material.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, University of Michigan Medical Center, Ann Arbor.
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Wright
authors.forename: T E
authors.initials: TE
authors.lastname: Taddonio
authors.forename: J K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Prasad
authors.forename: P D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Thomson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000641:Ammonia; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D002056:Burns / Q000382:microbiology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004203:Disinfection; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D010969:Plastics; D013165:Splints; D014946:Wound Infection / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D010969:Plastics; D000641:Ammonia