title: Detection and characterization of surface microbial contamination in emergency ambulances.
abstract: A cross-sectional study was performed in 10 emergency basic life support ambulances operating in Bilbao, Spain, to assess surface bacterial contamination. Presence of clinically relevant bacterial contamination suggests that disinfection of the studied basic life support ambulances was not optimal and represents a potential risk of infection for the patients transferred in them. It is critical to implement existing infection control and prevention protocols to resolve this issue.
authors: Departamento de Inmunología, Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina y Enfermería, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Bilbao, Spain.
authors: Aketza
authors: A
authors: Varona-Barquin
authors: Departamento de Enfermería I, Facultad de Medicina y Enfermería, Universidad del País Vasco-Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Bilbao, Spain.
authors: Sendoa
authors: S
authors: Ballesteros-Peña
authors: Servicio de Anestesiología y Reanimación, Hospital Universitario Basurto, Bilbao, Spain.
authors: Sergio
authors: S
authors: Lorrio-Palomino
authors: Departamento de Medicina Preventiva y Salud Pública, Facultad de Medicina y Enfermería, Universidad del País Vasco-Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Bilbao, Spain; Servicio de Medicina Preventiva e Higiene Hospitalaria, Complejo Hospitalario de Navarra, Pamplona, Spain.
authors: Guillermo
authors: G
authors: Ezpeleta
authors: Departamento de Inmunología, Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina y Enfermería, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Bilbao, Spain.
authors: Verónica
authors: V
authors: Zamanillo
authors: Departamento de Inmunología, Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina y Enfermería, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Bilbao, Spain.
authors: Elena
authors: E
authors: Eraso
authors: Departamento de Inmunología, Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina y Enfermería, Universidad del País Vasco/Euskal Herriko Unibertsitatea, Bilbao, Spain. Electronic address: guillermo.quindos@ehu.eus.
authors: Guillermo
authors: G
authors: Quindós
mesh_terms: D000552:Ambulances; D001419:Bacteria / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D006801:Humans; D013030:Spain
keywords: Bacteria; Emergency medical services; Environmental microbial contamination; Infection; Infection control procedures; Staphylococcus aureus