title: Identification badge lanyards as infection control risk: a cross-sectional observation study with epidemiological analysis.
abstract: Staphylococcus aureus cultures from name badge lanyards were phenotypically and genotypically indistinguishable from the wearer's nasal carrier strains by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and antibiogram. Lanyards had a mean age of 22 months and hygiene was poor with only 9% ever having been laundered. Molecular analysis showed that 26% of S. aureus nasal carriers shared an indistinguishable strain on their lanyard. Lanyards should not be recommended for staff in frontline clinical care.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention and Control, The Adelaide and Meath Hospitals, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: clairemurphy1104@gmail.com.
authors.forename: C M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Murphy
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention and Control, The Adelaide and Meath Hospitals, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Di Ruscio
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Prevention and Control, The Adelaide and Meath Hospitals, Dublin incorporating the National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lynskey
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention and Control, The Adelaide and Meath Hospitals, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention and Control, The Adelaide and Meath Hospitals, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: McCullough
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Prevention and Control, The Adelaide and Meath Hospitals, Dublin incorporating the National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Cosgrave
authors.affiliation: Department of Infection Prevention and Control, The Adelaide and Meath Hospitals, Dublin incorporating the National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: McDonnell
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention and Control, The Adelaide and Meath Hospitals, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fennell
mesh_terms: D003428:Cross Infection / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000382:microbiology* / Q000635:transmission; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D016521:Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field / Q000379:methods; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D005838:Genotype; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education; D006801:Humans; D006920:Hygiene / Q000193:education; D017053:Infection Control / Q000379:methods; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008826:Microbial Sensitivity Tests / Q000379:methods; D008967:Molecular Biology / Q000379:methods; D009297:Nasal Mucosa / Q000382:microbiology*; D010641:Phenotype; D012306:Risk; D013203:Staphylococcal Infections / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D013211:Staphylococcus aureus / Q000235:genetics* / Q000254:growth & development
keywords: Infection; Lanyard; Molecular analysis; Staphylococcus aureus