Bacterial colonization of toys in neonatal intensive care cots.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the bacteria and fungi contaminating toys in neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) cots, the colonization rates, and factors that influence them.


METHODS
A cross-sectional, longitudinal bacteriologic survey of all toys in the cots of infants in an NICU. All the toys in an infant's cot were cultured weekly for 4 weeks. Data were collected on the infant's postnatal age, the type of cot, whether humidity was added, characteristics of the toy, and any infant infections.


RESULTS
Over the 4-week period, there were 86 cultures from 34 toys of 19 infants. Bacteria were grown from 84/86 (98%): 84 of the cultures grew coagulase-negative Staphylococcus, 50 Micrococcus sp, 21 Bacillus sp, 13 methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 12 diphtheroids, 4 group B streptococcus, 3 S aureus, 3 nonhemolytic streptococci, 3 group D streptococci, 4 alpha-hemolytic streptococci, and 2 coliforms. None grew fungi. The colonization rate did not differ with cot type, presence of humidity, size of the toy, toy fiber length, or the fluffiness score. Eight (42%) of the infants had positive blood culture results and 5/8 of the isolates (63%) were of the same type as that colonizing their corresponding toy.


CONCLUSIONS
With time, all the toys in NICU cots became colonized with bacteria. Many were potentially pathogenic. Toys may be reservoirs for potential infantile nosocomial sepsis. infant, newborn, toys, infection, neonatal intensive care.
Division of Neonatal Services, Division of Laboratory Services, Royal Women's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia.
M W
MW
Davies
S
S
Mehr
S T
ST
Garland
C J
CJ
Morley
D001315:Australia; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D004197:Disease Reservoirs; D005658:Fungi / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006801:Humans; D007186:Incubators, Infant / Q000382:microbiology*; D007223:Infant; D015370:Infant Equipment / Q000382:microbiology*; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007363:Intensive Care Units, Neonatal / Q000592:standards*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D010988:Play and Playthings