title: Are identity badges and lanyards in pediatrics potentially contaminated with viral pathogens?
abstract: Identity (ID) badges and lanyards worn by pediatric health care workers (HCWs) have been shown to be potential vectors of nosocomial bacterial infections. This cross-sectional study determined the contamination of ID badges and lanyards worn by pediatric HCWs with common respiratory and gastrointestinal viruses. The results showed that ID badges and lanyards are not significantly contaminated with common respiratory or gastrointestinal viruses and are unlikely to be a significant vector for nosocomial infection.
authors: Central Medical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing and Health Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia; KK Women and Children's Hospital, Singapore.
authors: Chun Yi
authors: CY
authors: Ting
authors: Monash Children's Hospital, Clayton, Victoria, Australia. Electronic address: daryl.cheng@monashhealth.org.
authors: Daryl R
authors: DR
authors: Cheng
authors: Monash Infectious Diseases, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Despina
authors: D
authors: Kotsanas
authors: Enteric Virus Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia; Department of Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Carl D
authors: CD
authors: Kirkwood
authors: Enteric Virus Group, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Nada
authors: N
authors: Bogdanovic-Sakran
authors: Monash Infectious Diseases, Monash Health, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash Children's Hospital, Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
authors: Rhonda L
authors: RL
authors: Stuart
authors: Department of Infectious Diseases, Monash Children's Hospital; Department of Paediatrics, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia; SAEFVIC, Murdoch Childrens Research Institute, Royal Children's Hospital, Parkville, VIC, Australia.
authors: Jim P
authors: JP
authors: Buttery
mesh_terms: D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005260:Female; D006282:Health Personnel; D006776:Hospitals, Pediatric; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013337:Students, Medical; D014780:Viruses / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification*
keywords: Gastrointestinal viruses; Identity badges; Nosocomial infection; Respiratory; Viral contamination