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A Method to Test the Efficacy of Handwashing for the Removal of Emerging Infectious Pathogens
Published on: June 7, 2017
How well does transfer of bacterial pathogens by culture swabs correlate with transfer by hands?
Anubhav Kanwar1, Thriveen S C Mana1, Jennifer L Cadnum2
1Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, OH.
Abstract:
In laboratory testing and in isolation rooms, pickup and transfer of health care-associated pathogens by premoistened rayon swabs correlated well with pickup and transfer by bare hands or moistened gloves. These results suggest that swab cultures provide a useful surrogate indicator of the risk for pathogen pickup and transfer by hands.
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