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Published on: March 5, 2014
Frequency of surface bacterial contamination in family physicians' offices
Pauline Huriez1, Julie Lourtet-Hascoet2, Jean-Ralph Zahar3
1Équipe Mobile de Microbiologie Clinique, Groupe Hospitalier Paris Saint-Joseph, Paris 75014, France.
Objectives:
The environment is perceived as a potential source of healthcare-associated infections. While this infection source has been well studied in hospital settings, little data on the risk of contamination in general medical practice is available. We aimed to assess the frequency of environmental contamination in family practice (FP), and to describe pathogens isolated, at-risk surfaces, and factors associated with this contamination.
Patients And Methods:
We conducted a cross-sectional point prevalence study over six months in 51 FP offices. In each office, six environmental samples were collected after and before consultations on high-touch surfaces (stethoscope, examination table, physician's desktop, blood pressure cuff, medical equipment tray, computer keyboard and mouse).
Results:
A total of 580 samples were obtained. All offices were contaminated at any time with at least 2.5 colony forming units. The median rate of examination room bio-cleaning was twice a week. For all equipment and surfaces, a lower bacterial load was found before consultations when the last cleaning had occurred less than 24hours prior to testing.
Conclusion:
High environmental contamination was observed in FP offices. Less than one practice in five used an effective cleaning agent; family physicians' awareness of practice hygiene is an important step for prevention.
Insights
Family practice offices show high environmental contamination. Improving practice hygiene and using effective cleaning agents are crucial for preventing healthcare-associated infections.
Area of Science:
- Infection Control
- Environmental Hygiene
- Public Health
Background:
- Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) pose a significant risk.
- Environmental contamination is a known source of HAIs, particularly in hospitals.
- Limited data exists on environmental contamination risks in general medical practices.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the frequency of environmental contamination in family practice (FP) settings.
- To identify pathogens, high-risk surfaces, and contributing factors to contamination.
- To inform strategies for reducing infection transmission in primary care.
Main Methods:
- A cross-sectional point prevalence study was conducted in 51 family practice offices over six months.
- Environmental samples were collected from six high-touch surfaces before and after patient consultations.
- Surfaces included stethoscopes, examination tables, desktops, blood pressure cuffs, equipment trays, and computer peripherals.
Main Results:
- All surveyed family practice offices exhibited environmental contamination (≥2.5 CFU).
- The median frequency of examination room cleaning was twice weekly.
- Lower bacterial load was observed on surfaces cleaned within 24 hours prior to sampling.
Conclusions:
- Family practice environments frequently harbor significant contamination.
- Less than 20% of practices utilized effective cleaning agents.
- Enhancing family physicians' awareness and implementation of practice hygiene protocols is essential for infection prevention.
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