Reusable Tourniquets as Potential Transmitters of Infection: A Microbiological Analysis

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) pose a significant global challenge, resulting in prolonged hospital stays, higher healthcare costs, and increased morbidity and mortality rates. Reusable medical equipment, such as tourniquets, represents a potential vector for infection transmission. Despite frequent use and close contact with patients' skin, infection control protocols often overlook these devices. This study examines microbial contamination on the surface of reusable tourniquets in both emergency department and operating theatre settings.

A cross-sectional study was conducted between March and September 2024 in Gdansk, Poland. Samples from tourniquets used in the emergency department and the operating theatre were collected after an indefinite period, 14 days, and 28 days. Bacterial contamination on the surfaces of the tourniquets was measured using Columbia agar blood medium and expressed as colony-forming units (CFUs) per cm².

Significant bacterial loads were detected on reusable tourniquets, with contamination levels varying by location and duration of use. The average number of CFU/cm² across all stages of this study was 545 CFU/cm² for the emergency department and 101 CFU/cm² for the operating theatre. Tourniquets used in the emergency department exhibited higher bacterial counts compared to those from the operating theatre, which showed a greater diversity of bacterial species. These findings underscore the need to revise infection control protocols for reusable tourniquets.

This study provides critical data that may influence future policy changes aimed at reducing the risk of HAIs through the improved management of reusable medical devices.