title: Air ionisation and colonisation/infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter species in an intensive care unit.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine effect of negative air ions on colonisation/infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Acinetobacter species in an intensive care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective single-centre cross-over study in an adult general intensive care unit.
  
  
  METHODS
  201 patients whose stay on the unit exceeded 48 hour's duration.
  
  
  METHODS
  Six negative air ionisers were installed on the unit but not operational for the first 5 months of the study (control period). Devices were then operational for the following 5.5 months.
  
  
  RESULTS
  30 and 13 patients were colonised/infected with MRSA and Acinetobacter spp., respectively, over 10.5 months. No change in MRSA colonisation/infection was observed compared with the 5 month control period. Acinetobacter cases were reduced from 11 to 2 (p=0.007).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ionisers may have a role in the prevention of Acinetobacter infections.
authors.affiliation: Aerobiological Research Group, School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK. kevin.kerr@hdft.nhs.uk.|Department of Microbiology, Harrogate District Hospital, Lancaster Park Road, HG2 7SX, Harrogate, North Yorkshire, UK. kevin.kerr@hdft.nhs.uk.
authors.forename: Kevin G
authors.initials: KG
authors.lastname: Kerr
authors.affiliation: Aerobiological Research Group, School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Clive B
authors.initials: CB
authors.lastname: Beggs
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Stephen G
authors.initials: SG
authors.lastname: Dean
authors.affiliation: Intensive Care Unit, St James's University Hospital, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Judith
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thornton
authors.affiliation: Trinity and All Saints College, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Judith K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Donnelly
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, York District Hospital, York, UK.
authors.forename: Neil J
authors.initials: NJ
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.affiliation: Aerobiological Research Group, School of Civil Engineering, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: P Andrew
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Sleigh
authors.affiliation: Division of Microbiology, School of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Andleeb
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Qureshi
authors.affiliation: School of Mathematics, University of Leeds, Leeds, UK.
authors.forename: Charles C
authors.initials: CC
authors.lastname: Taylor
mesh_terms: D000151:Acinetobacter Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D000336:Aerosols; D000391:Air Microbiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000295:instrumentation*; D007362:Intensive Care Units; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D010969:Plastics; D011446:Prospective Studies; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*; D055672:Static Electricity
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D010969:Plastics