Spores on wheels: Wheelchairs are a potential vector for dissemination ofpathogens in healthcare facilities

Area of Science:

• Infectious Diseases
• Healthcare Epidemiology
• Medical Device Contamination

Background:

• Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) pose a significant threat to patient safety.
• Shared medical equipment can act as a reservoir for pathogenic microorganisms.
• Understanding pathogen transmission vectors is crucial for infection control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the contamination of shared wheelchairs with healthcare-associated pathogens.
• To analyze the movement patterns of shared wheelchairs within a healthcare setting.
• To assess the potential of wheelchairs as a route for pathogen transmission.

Main Methods:

• Environmental sampling of shared wheelchairs for microbial contamination.
• Microbiological analysis to identify specific pathogens, including Clostridium difficile spores.
• Network analysis of wheelchair transport data over a 3-day period.

Main Results:

• Shared wheelchairs were frequently contaminated with healthcare-associated pathogens.
• Clostridium difficile spores were identified on sampled wheelchairs.
• Network analysis revealed extensive movement of wheelchairs between inpatient wards, outpatient clinics, radiology, and physical therapy.

Conclusions:

• Shared wheelchairs represent a potential vehicle for the transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens.
• Frequent inter-departmental transport of wheelchairs increases the risk of pathogen dissemination.
• Enhanced disinfection protocols for shared wheelchairs are warranted to mitigate transmission risks.