Abstract
Background: There is a rising prevalence of both hospital-acquired and community-associated strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Both strains are found in patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs). Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify objects in the ED that might contribute to the spread of MRSA. Methods: This was a cross-sectional prevalence study in which culture swabs were taken from 20 different objects in a large urban ED between May and August 2006. The objects were identified a priori, and included common items found in an ED. Items ranging from computers to telephones, desktop surfaces, security door keypads, and ultrasound probes were included in the study. Each item was cultured twice, on separate days, for a total of 40 samples. The samples were screened for the presence of MRSA, and positive samples underwent additional susceptibility analysis. Results: Only one sample of 40, from the ambulance bay security door keypad, was positive for MRSA. Thus, the prevalence of MRSA was 2.5%. The single strain isolated was resistant to clindamycin, erythromycin, oxacillin, and penicillin. Conclusion: MRSA does not seem to thrive on inanimate objects found in the ED. Routine cleaning measures in an urban ED must include all areas of medical personnel use, including areas outside of the department utilized by non-ED workers.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 124-127 |
| Number of pages | 4 |
| Journal | Journal of Emergency Medicine |
| Volume | 41 |
| Issue number | 2 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Aug 2011 |
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Keywords
- emergency department
- infection
- MRSA
- nosocomial
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Emergency Medicine
Cite this
The prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus on inanimate objects in an urban emergency department. / Kei, Jonathan; Richards, John R.
In: Journal of Emergency Medicine, Vol. 41, No. 2, 08.2011, p. 124-127.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - The prevalence of methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus on inanimate objects in an urban emergency department
AU - Kei, Jonathan
AU - Richards, John R
PY - 2011/8
Y1 - 2011/8
N2 - Background: There is a rising prevalence of both hospital-acquired and community-associated strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Both strains are found in patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs). Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify objects in the ED that might contribute to the spread of MRSA. Methods: This was a cross-sectional prevalence study in which culture swabs were taken from 20 different objects in a large urban ED between May and August 2006. The objects were identified a priori, and included common items found in an ED. Items ranging from computers to telephones, desktop surfaces, security door keypads, and ultrasound probes were included in the study. Each item was cultured twice, on separate days, for a total of 40 samples. The samples were screened for the presence of MRSA, and positive samples underwent additional susceptibility analysis. Results: Only one sample of 40, from the ambulance bay security door keypad, was positive for MRSA. Thus, the prevalence of MRSA was 2.5%. The single strain isolated was resistant to clindamycin, erythromycin, oxacillin, and penicillin. Conclusion: MRSA does not seem to thrive on inanimate objects found in the ED. Routine cleaning measures in an urban ED must include all areas of medical personnel use, including areas outside of the department utilized by non-ED workers.
AB - Background: There is a rising prevalence of both hospital-acquired and community-associated strains of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) infections. Both strains are found in patients presenting to emergency departments (EDs). Objective: The purpose of this study was to identify objects in the ED that might contribute to the spread of MRSA. Methods: This was a cross-sectional prevalence study in which culture swabs were taken from 20 different objects in a large urban ED between May and August 2006. The objects were identified a priori, and included common items found in an ED. Items ranging from computers to telephones, desktop surfaces, security door keypads, and ultrasound probes were included in the study. Each item was cultured twice, on separate days, for a total of 40 samples. The samples were screened for the presence of MRSA, and positive samples underwent additional susceptibility analysis. Results: Only one sample of 40, from the ambulance bay security door keypad, was positive for MRSA. Thus, the prevalence of MRSA was 2.5%. The single strain isolated was resistant to clindamycin, erythromycin, oxacillin, and penicillin. Conclusion: MRSA does not seem to thrive on inanimate objects found in the ED. Routine cleaning measures in an urban ED must include all areas of medical personnel use, including areas outside of the department utilized by non-ED workers.
KW - emergency department
KW - infection
KW - MRSA
KW - nosocomial
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=80051592117&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80051592117&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.jemermed.2008.08.002
DO - 10.1016/j.jemermed.2008.08.002
M3 - Article
C2 - 19111424
AN - SCOPUS:80051592117
VL - 41
SP - 124
EP - 127
JO - Journal of Emergency Medicine
JF - Journal of Emergency Medicine
SN - 0736-4679
IS - 2
ER -