title: Evaluation of patients' skin, environmental surfaces, and urinary catheters as sources for transmission of urinary pathogens.
abstract: In hospitalized patients with urinary tract infection or asymptomatic bacteriuria, urinary pathogens frequently contaminate skin, high-touch environmental surfaces, and urinary catheters. Contamination is more common in patients with a urinary catheter in place and with gram-positive pathogens. Patients' skin and environmental surfaces may provide an important source for transmission of urinary pathogens.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Kathleen A
authors.initials: KA
authors.lastname: Linder
authors.affiliation: MetroHealth Medical Center, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Michelle T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Hecker
authors.affiliation: Research Service, Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Sirisha
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kundrapu
authors.affiliation: Research Service, Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, OH.
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Cadnum
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI.
authors.forename: Jackson S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Musuuza
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, WI.
authors.forename: Ajay K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Sethi
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, OH. Electronic address: curtisd123@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Curtis J
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Donskey
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005260:Female; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012867:Skin / Q000382:microbiology*; D062885:Urinary Catheters / Q000382:microbiology*; D014552:Urinary Tract Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission*
keywords: Asymptomatic bacteriuria; Contamination; Gram-positive; Urinary tract infection