Biomedical Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Chapter 3
The Role of Contaminated Surfaces
in the Transmission of Nosocomial Pathogens
Jonathan A. Otter, Saber Yezli, and Gary L. French
Contents
3.1 Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ................... 29
3.2 Pathogens Are Shed into the Hospital Environment ...................................... 30
3.3 The Concentration of Contamination Is Sufficient for Transmission . . ................... 31
3.4 Nosocomial Pathogens Can Survive on Surfaces for Long Periods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
3.5 Limitations of Cleaning and Disinfection ................................................. 33
3.6 Nosocomial Pathogens Can Be Transferred from Contaminated Surfaces
to the Hands of Healthcare Workers . . . . . .................................................. 34
3.7 Evidence That Surface Contamination Contributes
to Nosocomial Cross-Transmission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
3.7.1 Clostridium Difficile . . . ............................................................. 38
3.7.2 Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci (VRE) ........................................ 40
3.7.3 MRSA ............................................................................... 41
3.7.4 Gram-Negative Rods (GNRs) . ..................................................... 41
3.7.5 Norovirus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
3.7.6 Revaluating “Negative” Studies ................................................... 44
This chapter is based on reviews published in Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology [ 1 ] and
the American Journal for Infection Control [ 2 ].
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