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Related Experiment Videos

Patients' case-notes: look but don't touch.

A Bebbington1, I Parkin, P A James

  • 1Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Royal Gwent Hospital, Cardiff Road, Newport, Gwent NP20 2UB, UK. abebbington@doctors.net.uk

The Journal of Hospital Infection
|November 25, 2003
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Viable bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, were cultured from most patient case notes. This highlights the risk of cross-infection and emphasizes the importance of hand hygiene after handling medical records.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infection Control
  • Healthcare Epidemiology

Background:

  • Patient case notes are essential for medical information.
  • The potential for microbial contamination of healthcare materials is a concern.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the presence of viable bacteria on inpatient case notes.
  • To assess the risk of pathogen transmission from case notes.

Main Methods:

  • Random sampling of 228 inpatient case notes.
  • Contact plate method used for bacterial culture.
  • Analysis included total viable counts, Gram-positive, Gram-negative, and MRSA detection.

Main Results:

  • Bacteria were isolated from 227 out of 228 case notes.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Staphylococcus aureus was identified in nine samples.
  • No Gram-negative bacteria or methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) were detected.

    • Conclusions:

    • Potentially pathogenic bacteria can reside on patient case notes.
    • Case notes may serve as a reservoir for microbial transmission and cross-infection.
    • Handwashing after handling case notes is recommended to prevent patient cross-infection.