title: Sphygmomanometer cuffs: a potential source of infection!
abstract: We evaluated the potential pathogenic hazard of sphygmomanometer blood pressure cuffs (BPCs) in a hospital setting. Prospectively, the presence of bacterial organisms on 120 BPCs in 14 medical wards and outpatient clinics in a district general hospital in London was assessed. Swabs taken from the inner aspect of the cuffs were cultured using standard microbiological techniques. Bacterial organisms were found in 85% (102) of the 120 BPCs assessed. The highest rates of contamination were found in the outpatients department (90%). There were differences in the most common bacterial species isolated between the samples obtained from the outpatient clinics and the wards, with coagulase-negative Staphylococcus and diphtheroids being the most prevalent species in the wards and outpatient clinics, respectively. These findings highlight the necessity to eliminate this potential risk of infection.
authors.affiliation: Imperial College School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Zargaran
authors.affiliation: Imperial College School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hardwick
authors.affiliation: Imperial College School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Reeja
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Adel
authors.affiliation: Imperial College School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.affiliation: Imperial College School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Stubbins
authors.affiliation: Imperial College School of Medicine, London, United Kingdom Cardiology Department, Central Middlesex Hospital, London, United Kingdom a.salmasi@imperial.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Abdul Majeed
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Salmasi
mesh_terms: D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D003428:Cross Infection / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D004866:Equipment Contamination / Q000517:prevention & control; D006757:Hospital Units; D006767:Hospitals, District; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D008131:London; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D019722:Sphygmomanometers / Q000382:microbiology*
keywords: blood pressure; blood pressure cuff; fomites; hygiene; infection; sphygmomanometer