title: Influence of biological fluids in bacterial viability on different hospital surfaces and fomites.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The hospital environment is susceptible to bacterial contamination along with survival in fomites and surfaces, allowing dissemination of potential pathogenic strains. The present research aimed to evaluate the influence of biological fluids in bacterial viability on fomites and surfaces commonly present in nosocomial environment.
  
  
  METHODS
  Four different fomites and surfaces (ceramic floor, cotton fabric fragments and synthetic fibers, and eggcrate foam mattress) were contaminated with potential pathogens (Staphylococcus aureus, Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecalis, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Klebsiella pneumoniae), then submitted to influence of biological fluids (blood, urine, artificial saliva). The viability of strains was evaluated at 24 hours after contamination and then in intervals of 7 days, by the colony-forming unit count technique.
  
  
  RESULTS
  S aureus presented viability (>70 days) in all conditions tested, E faecalis and K pneumoniae had decreased viability over time, and E coli did not exhibit a growth relationship with surfaces or fluids. Persistence and adaptability capacity of potential pathogens in fomites and surfaces exposed to the patient are important for guidance, planning, and outlining of protocols for microorganism dissemination control and prevention in the health care environment.
authors.affiliation: Master's Program in Environment and Regional Development, University of Western São Paulo, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Deigilam C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Esteves
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Science, University of Western São Paulo, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Valeria C
authors.initials: VC
authors.lastname: Pereira
authors.affiliation: Master's Program in Environment and Regional Development, University of Western São Paulo, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Joyce M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Souza
authors.affiliation: School of Biomedical Science, University of Western São Paulo, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rogéria
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.affiliation: Master's Program in Environment and Regional Development, University of Western São Paulo, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Rebeca D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Simões
authors.affiliation: Master's Program in Environment and Regional Development, University of Western São Paulo, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lizziane K
authors.initials: LK
authors.lastname: Winkelstroter Eller
authors.affiliation: Master's Program in Environment and Regional Development, University of Western São Paulo, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil; School of Biomedical Science, University of Western São Paulo, Presidente Prudente, SP, Brazil. Electronic address: marcusvincius@unoeste.br.
authors.forename: Marcus Vinicius P
authors.initials: MV
authors.lastname: Rodrigues
mesh_terms: D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001826:Body Fluids / Q000382:microbiology*; D015169:Colony Count, Microbial; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D050456:Fomites / Q000382:microbiology*; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D050296:Microbial Viability; D013997:Time Factors
keywords: Cross-infection; Fomites; Microbial viability