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Published on: June 7, 2017
Survival of bacterial pathogens on paper and bacterial retrieval from paper to hands: preliminary results
Nils-Olaf Hübner1, Claudia Hübner, Axel Kramer
1Institute for Hygiene and Environmental Medicine, Ernst Moritz Arndt University of Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany. nhuebner@uni-greifswald.de
Background:
Paper is omnipresent on hospital units, but few studies have examined the possible role of paper in the spread of nosocomial pathogens.
Objective:
To determine by laboratory investigation how long bacterial pathogens can survive on office paper and whether bacteria can be transferred from hands to paper and back to hands in a "worst-case scenario."
Methods:
Samples of four bacterial pathogens (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Enterococcus hirae) were prepared according to standard laboratory procedures. Sterile swatches of office paper were inoculated with the pathogens and bacterial survival was tested over seven days. To test the transmission of bacteria from one person's hands to paper and back to another person's hands, the fingertips of volunteers were inoculated with a nonpathogenic strain of E. coli; these volunteers then pressed the inoculum onto sterile paper swatches. Another group of volunteers whose hands had been moistened pressed their fingertips onto the contaminated paper swatches. Bacteria transferred to the moistened fingertips were cultivated according to standard laboratory procedures.
Results:
The four tested organisms showed differences in length of survival depending on environmental room conditions, but were stable on paper for up to 72 hours and still cultivable after seven days. Test organisms were transferred to paper, survived on it, and were retransferred back to hands.
Conclusion:
Paper can serve as a vehicle for cross-contamination of bacterial pathogens in medical settings if current recommendations on hand hygiene aren't meticulously followed.
Insights
Bacterial pathogens can survive on office paper for up to seven days, posing a risk for cross-contamination in hospitals. Meticulous hand hygiene is crucial to prevent the spread of these dangerous microbes.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infection Control
- Healthcare Epidemiology
Background:
- Paper is ubiquitous in hospital settings, yet its role in the transmission of healthcare-associated infections remains understudied.
- Understanding potential fomites like paper is critical for comprehensive infection control strategies.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the survival duration of common bacterial pathogens on office paper.
- To assess the potential for bacterial transfer between hands and paper in a simulated worst-case scenario.
Main Methods:
- Four bacterial pathogens (Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Enterococcus hirae) were inoculated onto paper samples.
- Bacterial survival was monitored for seven days under laboratory conditions.
- Hand-to-paper and paper-to-hand transfer of bacteria were tested using volunteer participants and a nonpathogenic E. coli strain.
Main Results:
- The tested bacterial pathogens remained viable on paper for up to 72 hours and were cultivable after seven days.
- Successful transfer of bacteria from hands to paper and subsequently back to hands was demonstrated.
- Survival rates varied based on environmental conditions but were consistently significant.
Conclusions:
- Office paper can act as a fomite for the cross-contamination of bacterial pathogens within healthcare environments.
- Strict adherence to hand hygiene protocols is essential to mitigate the risk of pathogen transmission via paper.
