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Do wheelchairs spread pathogenic bacteria within hospital walls?
Avi Peretz1, Anna Koiefman, Eleonora Dinisman
1Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Affiliated to the Faculty of Medicine, The Baruch Padeh Medical Center, Bar Ilan University, Poria, Galilee, Israel, aperetz@poria.health.gov.il.
Abstract:
Transmission of nosocomial pathogens has been linked to transient colonization of health care workers, medical devices and other constituents of patients' environment. In this paper we present our findings concerning the presence of pathogenic bacteria on wheelchairs, and the possibility that wheelchairs constitute a reservoir of these bacteria and a means of spreading them. In this work we examined four wheelchairs, each from a different location: the internal medicine ward, the emergency department, the general surgery ward and wheelchair stockpile of the transportation unit of the hospital. The samples were collected and cultured on different media. Bacterial identification and antimicrobial sensitivity testing were carried out using accepted practices in the microbiology laboratory. We found that wheelchairs are contaminated with several pathogenic bacteria, among them antibiotic-resistant strains such as MRSA, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumanni etc. Since there is no specific guideline protocol that deals with disinfection and cleaning frequency of wheelchairs in hospitals, we suggest each hospital to write one.
Insights
Wheelchairs in hospitals can harbor dangerous bacteria, including antibiotic-resistant strains like MRSA. This study highlights the need for hospital-specific cleaning protocols to prevent pathogen transmission via wheelchairs.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infection Control
- Hospital Epidemiology
Background:
- Nosocomial pathogens transmit via healthcare environments.
- Medical devices and patient surroundings can harbor transiently colonized bacteria.
- Wheelchairs may act as reservoirs for pathogenic bacteria.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the presence of pathogenic bacteria on hospital wheelchairs.
- To determine if wheelchairs contribute to the spread of healthcare-associated infections.
- To assess the potential of wheelchairs as reservoirs for nosocomial pathogens.
Main Methods:
- Sampling and culturing of bacteria from four hospital wheelchairs.
- Bacterial identification using standard microbiology laboratory practices.
- Antimicrobial sensitivity testing of isolated bacterial strains.
Main Results:
- Wheelchairs were found to be contaminated with multiple pathogenic bacteria.
- Identified pathogens included antibiotic-resistant strains such as Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Pseudomonas aeruginosa, and Acinetobacter baumannii.
- Specific locations sampled included internal medicine, emergency, general surgery, and transportation units.
Conclusions:
- Hospital wheelchairs can be contaminated with significant pathogenic bacteria.
- Antibiotic-resistant organisms pose a risk of transmission via wheelchairs.
- Hospitals require specific guidelines for wheelchair disinfection and cleaning frequency.
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