Hospital-associated infections are a major cause of morbidity and mortality, especially among the critically ill.
Worldwide, the emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria has caused significant problems.
A recent study from the University of Maryland examined the impact of environmental contamination on the rate of transfer of MDR bacteria to healthcare workers clothing.
Two important findings from this study of ICU patients were:
Up to 8% of healthcare workers entered a patient's room with MDR bacteria on their hands
Almost 5% of healthcare workers had MDR bacteria (most notably Acinetobacter) on their hands upon exiting the room despite using gloves and a gown
Take Home Point: Be sure to use hand hygiene upon entering and exiting a patient's room who is colonized with MDR bacteria!
References
Morgan DJ, et al. Transfer of multidrug-resistant bacteria to healthcare workers' gloves and gowns after patient contact increases with environmental contamination. Crit Care Med 2012; 40:1045-1051.
