title: Evaluation and quantitative microbial risk assessment of a unique antimicrobial agent for hospital surface treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  It is generally agreed that contaminated hospital surfaces play a role in the transmission of hospital-acquired infections (HAIs). The ability of an antimicrobial agent, engineered at Emory University, to reduce bacterial bioburden on hospital surfaces was examined. A quantitative microbial risk assessment was also conducted to quantify the potential reduction of human health risks associated with application of this antimicrobial product.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 1-arm, prospective observational study was conducted. High-frequency contact surfaces within 18 hospital patient rooms were sampled in between patient use. Negative binomial regression with repeated measures was used to examine log CFU/100 cm(2) reductions in total, gram-negative, and Staphylococcus aureus microorganisms. Standard risk assessment methods were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Multivariate regression demonstrated significant reductions in gram-negative (P < .0001) and S aureus (P = .009) bacteria with increasing patient turnover. No reduction was observed in total bacteria (P = .93). Infection risks were reduced by 4 and 3 logs for gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, respectively. These risk reductions, along with HAI survey studies, suggest that application of this antimicrobial product could prevent as many as 5%-10% of HAIs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study was the first evaluation of a distinctive antimicrobial agent for hospital surface treatment. The findings provide support for the utility of an antimicrobial product in potentially reducing HAI transmission from contaminated environment surfaces.
authors.affiliation: Center for Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Computational Biology, Exponent Health Sciences, Chicago, Ill.
authors.forename: Vanessa
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Perez
authors.affiliation: Department is Epidemiology, Human Genetics, and Environmental Sciences, University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Houston, TX.
authors.forename: Kristina D
authors.initials: KD
authors.lastname: Mena
authors.affiliation: Statistical and Data Sciences Practice, Exponent, Menlo Park, CA.
authors.forename: Heather N
authors.initials: HN
authors.lastname: Watson
authors.affiliation: HealthCure, LLC, Detroit, MI.
authors.forename: R Burt
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Prater
authors.affiliation: HealthCure, LLC, Detroit, MI. Electronic address: jlmci@aol.com.
authors.forename: John L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: McIntyre
mesh_terms: D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004202:Disinfectants / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D006090:Gram-Negative Bacteria / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D011446:Prospective Studies; D018570:Risk Assessment; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D013499:Surface Properties
chemical_list: D004202:Disinfectants
keywords: Antimicrobial activity; Infection prevention and control; Infectious disease; Staphylococcus aureus