title: Detecting Clostridium difficile spores from inanimate surfaces of the hospital environment: which method is best?
abstract: The recovery of Clostridium difficile spores from hospital surfaces was assessed using rayon swabs, flocked swabs, and contact plates. The contact plate method was less laborious, achieved higher recovery percentages, and detected spores at lower inocula than swabs. Rayon swabs were the least efficient method. However, further studies are required in health care settings.
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Education and Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland tpedrosaclaro@rcsi.ie.
authors.forename: Tânia
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Claro
authors.affiliation: School of Electronic Engineering and National Centre for Plasma Science Technology, Dublin City University, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daniels
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Microbiology, Education and Research Centre, Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland Department of Microbiology, Beaumont Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: Hilary
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Humphreys
mesh_terms: D001431:Bacteriological Techniques / Q000379:methods*; D016360:Clostridioides difficile / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000302:isolation & purification*