Nosocomial Infectious Bacterial Contamination onResidents' White Coats and Neckties.
10.5145/KJCM.2009.12.1.43
- Author:
Yong Kyun KIM
1
;
Jae Seok KIM
;
Hyoung Sun LEE
;
Hyun Sook KOO
;
Han Sung KIM
;
Wonkeun SONG
;
Ji Young PARK
;
Hae Ran LEE
;
Hyoun Chan CHO
;
Kyu Man LEE
Author Information
1. Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hallym University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. jaeseok@hallym.or.kr
- Publication Type:Original Article
- Keywords:
White coat;
Necktie;
Methicillin-resistant S. aureus;
Methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococci;
Contamination
- MeSH:
Agar;
Bacteria;
Clostridium difficile;
Coagulase;
Cross Infection;
Enterococcus;
Ethanol;
European Continental Ancestry Group;
Humans;
Mannitol;
Mass Screening;
Methicillin Resistance;
Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus;
Oxacillin;
Vancomycin
- From:Korean Journal of Clinical Microbiology
2009;12(1):43-47
- CountryRepublic of Korea
- Language:Korean
-
Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Doctors' white coats and neckties can become contaminated with potentially pathogenic bacteria and have a possibility of causing cross infections. Our objective was to determine the level of bacterial contamination and detect methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and Clostridium difficile present on the white coats and neckties of residents. METHODS: We sampled 28 long-sleeved white coats and 14 neckties worn by residents. The tested sites for white coats were the cuffs and lower front surfaces, and for neckties, the lower surfaces. Impressions of these sites were taken with the plates containing blood agar (BAP), mannitol salt agar supplemented with oxacillin (6microgram/mL), enterococcus screening agar supplemented with vancomycin (6microgram/mL) and phenyl ethanol agar. The colonies grown on each plate were Gram stained and identified by standard microbiological methods. RESULTS: Of the 28 white coats, 7 (25.0%) carried MRSA, and of the 14 neckties, 1 (7.1%) carried MRSA. The majority of white coats (96.4%) and all neckties (100.0%) carried methicillin-resistant coagulase negative staphylococci (MRCNS). None of the white coats and neckties carried VRE or C. difficile. CONCLUSION: Our results showed that white coats and neckties worn by residents were contaminated with MRSA and MRCNS. The preventive measures for clothing-borne cross contamination should be considered, especially when performing invasive procedures or having close contact with patients.
