Work

Contamination of the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory with Vancomycin-Resistant Enterococci and Multidrug- Resistant Enterobacteriaceae : Implications for Hospital and Laboratory Workers

Year: 2001

Type: article

Abstract: We surveyed environmental surfaces in our clinical microbiology laboratory to determine the prevalence of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) and multidrug-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (MDRE) during a routine working day. From a total of 193 surfaces, VRE were present on 20 (10%) and MDRE were present on 4 (2%) of the surfaces tested. In a subsequent survey after routine cleaning, all of the 24 prior positive surfaces were found to be negative. Thus, those in the laboratory should recognize that many surfaces may be contaminated by resistant organisms during routine processing of patient specimens.

Source: Journal of Clinical Microbiology

DOI: 10.1128/jcm.39.10.3772-3774.2001

Authors: Susan M. Collins, Donna M. Hacek, Lisa A. Degen, Marc O. Wright, Gary A. Noskin, Lance R. Peterson

Institutions: Northwestern Medicine, Northwestern University, Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Language: English

Topic: Infection Control in Healthcare

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funder: U.S. Public Health Service