Can methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus be found in an ambulance fleet?
OBJECTIVE
To perform an initial screening study of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) contamination in an ambulance fleet.


METHODS
This was a cross-sectional study of MRSA contamination in an ambulance fleet operating in the western United States in June 2006. Five specific areas within each of 21 ambulances (n = 105) were tested for MRSA contamination using dacron swabs moistened with a 0.85% sterile saline solution. These samples were then plated onto a screening media of mannitol salt agar containing 6.5% NaCl and 4 mcg/mL oxacillin.


RESULTS
Thirteen samples isolated from 10 of the 21 ambulances (47.6%) in the sample group tested positive for MRSA.


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this preliminary study suggest that ambulances operating in the emergency medical services (EMS) system may have a significant degree of MRSA contamination and may represent an important reservoir in the transmission of potentially serious infections to patients.
Roline
Chad E
CE
Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, DC 20007, USA. cer28@georgetown.edu
Crumpecker
Christina
C
Dunn
Thomas M
TM
D000552:Ambulances; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006801:Humans; D016106:Methicillin Resistance; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D014481:United States