title: Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus contamination of healthcare workers' uniforms in long-term care facilities.
abstract: Meticillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other multiply resistant bacteria are frequently isolated in long-term care facilities (LTCFs). This study evaluated the contamination of staff clothing in three LTCFs. Over 500 samples were taken from uniforms and their pockets and these samples showed a high level of MRSA contamination. Wearing plastic aprons and managing pocket contents improved the contamination rate. Our results highlight the continued importance of hand hygiene, since staff have frequent contact with their uniforms and could potentially contaminate their hands before care.
authors.affiliation: Equipe Inter-établissements d'Hygiène Hospitalière et de Gestion des Risques, Centre Hospitalier de Rouffach, Rouffach, France. ph.gaspard@ch-rouffach.fr
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Gaspard
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eschbach
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Gunther
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gayet
authors.forename: X
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Bertrand
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Talon
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000382:microbiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D050456:Fomites / Q000382:microbiology; D005602:France; D006707:Homes for the Aged / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D017053:Infection Control / Q000592:standards; D008134:Long-Term Care; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D009726:Nurses; D009728:Nursing Assistants; D009735:Nursing Homes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000592:standards; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000635:transmission*