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Survival of enterococci and staphylococci on hospital fabrics and plastic

A N Neely1, M P Maley

  • 1Shriners Hospitals for Children, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229-3095, USA. aneely@shrinenet.org

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|February 3, 2000
PubMed

Insights

Gram-positive bacteria, including MRSA and VRE, can survive for days or even months on common hospital fabrics. This highlights the critical need for strict infection control to prevent bacterial spread.

Area of Science:

  • Healthcare-associated infections
  • Microbiology
  • Infection control

Background:

  • Gram-positive bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), pose a significant threat in healthcare settings.
  • Bacterial survival on hospital surfaces is a key factor in transmission pathways.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the survival duration of various gram-positive bacteria on common hospital materials.
  • To assess the impact of different fabric types on bacterial persistence.

Main Methods:

  • Twenty-two gram-positive bacterial isolates (including MRSA and VRE) were tested.
  • Bacterial survival was evaluated on five materials: cotton, cotton terry, cotton-polyester blend, polyester, and polypropylene plastic.
  • Inoculated swatches were incubated in nutritive media and monitored daily for growth.

Main Results:

  • All bacterial isolates survived for at least one day on the tested materials.
  • Some bacteria persisted for over 90 days on certain fabrics.
  • Smaller initial bacterial loads (10^2 CFU) also survived for several days.
  • Antibiotic resistance did not consistently influence bacterial survival times.

Conclusions:

  • Common hospital fabrics like scrub suits, lab coats, and privacy drapes can support the prolonged survival of dangerous gram-positive bacteria.
  • Effective contact precautions and disinfection strategies are essential to mitigate the spread of these resilient pathogens.

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