Are toilet seats a vector for transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus?
We studied the bacterial burden on toilet seats in a children's cancer hospital to validate a policy requesting that immunocompromised children use alcohol wipes on the seats prior to use of the toilets. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was recovered from 3.3% of hospital toilets when wipes were not in use. Use of wipes resulted in a 50-fold reduction in mean daily bacterial counts and eliminated MRSA.
Giannini
Mary Anne
MA
Infection Control Program, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
Nance
Donna
D
McCullers
Jonathan A
JA
D000438:Alcohols / Q000494:pharmacology; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology; D004203:Disinfection / Q000379:methods; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D055624:Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000635:transmission*; D014038:Toilet Facilities
D000438:Alcohols; D004202:Disinfectants