Contamination of room door handles by methicillin-sensitive/methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Hospital Infection Control
• Public Health

Background:

• Staphylococcus aureus, including methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), is a significant nosocomial pathogen.
• Door handles are high-touch surfaces and potential reservoirs for microbial transmission in healthcare settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the prevalence and extent of Staphylococcus aureus contamination on room door handles in university hospital wards.
• To differentiate between methicillin-sensitive Staphylococcus aureus (MSSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) contamination.

Main Methods:

• Environmental sampling of door handles from 196 rooms across university hospital wards.
• Bacteriological analysis to detect and quantify Staphylococcus aureus, including MSSA and MRSA, using colony forming units (cfu).

Main Results:

• Door handles in 27.0% of rooms were contaminated with MSSA and/or MRSA.
• MSSA was found on 20.9% of handles, MRSA on 8.7%, and both on 2.6%.
• Contamination densities ranged from 1-2.6x10(4) cfu/handle for MSSA and 1-6.0x10(3) cfu/handle for MRSA.

Conclusions:

• A substantial proportion of hospital room door handles are contaminated with Staphylococcus aureus, posing a potential risk for patient and healthcare worker exposure.
• The findings underscore the need for enhanced environmental hygiene practices, including regular disinfection of high-touch surfaces like door handles, to mitigate the spread of hospital-acquired infections.