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.
Bhalla
Anita
A
Infectious Diseases Division, University Hospitals of Cleveland, Ohio, USA.
Pultz
Nicole J
NJ
Gries
Delores M
DM
Ray
Amy J
AJ
Eckstein
Elizabeth C
EC
Aron
David C
DC
Donskey
Curtis J
CJ
D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission*; D006225:Hand / Q000382:microbiology*; D006801:Humans; D009820:Ohio