Acquisition of nosocomial pathogens on hands after contact with environmental surfaces near hospitalized patients.
We examined the frequency of acquisition of bacterial pathogens on investigators' hands after contacting environmental surfaces near hospitalized patients. Hand imprint cultures were positive for one or more pathogens after contacting surfaces near 34 (53%) of 64 study patients, with Staphylococcus aureus and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus being the most common isolates.
Infectious Diseases Division, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Anita
A
Bhalla
Nicole J
NJ
Pultz
Delores M
DM
Gries
Amy J
AJ
Ray
Elizabeth C
EC
Eckstein
David C
DC
Aron
Curtis J
CJ
Donskey
D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D009820:Ohio