Prevalence of potentially pathogenic bacteria in showers at a long-term nursing care facility
Year: 2025
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Pathogenic bacteria on environmental surfaces in nursing homes may contribute to the growing burden of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), particularly as the U.S. population ages and more individuals transition into long-term care. In this study, 70 swab samples were collected from five community shower rooms at a nursing home over three sampling trips. Five common shower surfaces were sampled: the floor drain, shower bench, faucet/valves, shower curtain, and grab bars. Samples were processed in the UTC CIDC microbiology lab and inoculated onto four selective and differential media: Hardy CHROM MRSA agar (for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] and S. pseudintermedius [SIM]), mannitol salt agar (for S. aureus [SA] and S. epidermidis [SE]), eosin methylene blue agar (for enteric bacteria [ENT] and Bacillus spp. [BAC]), and Pseudomonas isolation agar (for Pseudomonas spp. [PS] and P . aeruginosa [PSA]). MRSA and SA were the most prevalent species overall, particularly on the floor drain (92.9%) and shower bench (64.3% and 71.4%, respectively). Enteric bacteria and Pseudomonas species were also found at high densities in floor drains, confirming this surface as a key contamination hotspot. BAC, while less pathogenic, was present on lower-contact surfaces like grab bars and shower curtains. This study highlights the urgent need for targeted infection control and disinfection strategies in high-risk areas, especially as the nursing home population continues to grow and remains vulnerable to environmental sources of infection.
Author: Kulon, Joseph Caleb
Institution: University of Tennessee at Chattanooga
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7051951408
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