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Bacterial survival on inanimate surfaces: a field study
Ruth Hanna Katzenberger1, Anja Rösel1, Ralf-Peter Vonberg2
1Institute for Medical Microbiology and Hospital Epidemiology, Hannover Medical School, Carl-Neuberg-Str. 1, 30625, Hannover, Germany.
BMC Research Notes
|March 16, 2021
Summary
Certain bacteria like Acinetobacter baumannii and Enterococcus faecium can survive on surfaces for weeks, increasing nosocomial infection risks. Strict infection control is vital to prevent pathogen spread.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Infectious Diseases
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Environmental surfaces act as reservoirs for nosocomial pathogens.
- Bacterial survival on surfaces influences transmission routes in healthcare settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To determine the survival kinetics of key nosocomial bacteria on common environmental surfaces.
- To assess the potential for pathogen transmission from contaminated surfaces.
Main Methods:
- Survival of Staphylococcus aureus, Klebsiella pneumoniae, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Acinetobacter baumannii, Serratia marcescens, Enterococcus faecium, Escherichia coli, and Enterobacter cloacae was tested.
- Bacteria were inoculated onto glass, polyvinyl chloride, stainless steel, and aluminum surfaces.
- Surfaces were incubated under ambient conditions for up to four weeks, with regular sampling.
Main Results:
- Acinetobacter baumannii and Enterococcus faecium demonstrated the longest survival (≥4 weeks) across all tested materials.
- Staphylococcus aureus remained viable for at least one week.
- Most Gram-negative bacteria, excluding A. baumannii, were inactivated within two days.
Conclusions:
- Acinetobacter baumannii and Enterococcus faecium pose a significant long-term contamination risk on environmental surfaces.
- Effective infection control measures are crucial to mitigate nosocomial transmission, especially during outbreaks involving these resilient pathogens.
