Survival of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) on naturally contaminated dry mops.
The floors of single rooms being used by inpatients colonized by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were cleaned using disposable dust-attracting dry mops. Each mop was divided into 12 sections and MRSA quantified serially. This experiment was repeated a total of 21 times for four patients. The MRSA survival rate on the dry mops compared with a control was 59.0-125% after seven days, 26.3-41.6% after 14 days, 0.1-16.2% after 28 days, 0-0.1% after 56 days and 0% after 84 days. MRSA disseminated by patients over the environment can survive for several weeks on dry mops.
Department of Pharmacy, Yamaguchi University Hospital, Ube, Japan.
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Oie
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Kamiya
D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004866:Equipment Contamination; D004865:Equipment and Supplies, Hospital; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*