Prevalence of pathogenic bacterial contamination on healthcare worker identification badges

Limited evidence exists on how healthcare worker (HCW) identification badges may become contaminated with microorganisms encountered in healthcare environments.

The purpose of this study was twofold: (1) to determine the prevalence of bacterial contamination, including pathogenic organisms, on HCW identification badges, and (2) to examine badge-use factors associated with bacterial accumulation.

This prospective cross-sectional correlational study was conducted at a large community academic health network in eastern Pennsylvania. Bacterial swab specimens were collected from the front and back of 110 identification badges worn by HCWs who provided direct patient care on medical-surgical and critical care units. A questionnaire collected demographic data and badge-use behaviors from participants. Ten new, unused badges served as controls.

Among the badges studied, 4/110 (3.6%; 95% CI, 1.0%-9.0%) HCW badges and 0/10 control badges yielded organisms associated with human infection. The organisms recovered were Acinetobacter radioresistens, Pantoea agglomerans, Stenotrophomonas maltophilia, and Aerococcus viridans. Non-pathogenic bacterial growth was detected on all 120 badges, with colony counts ranging from <100 to >10,000 CFU/mL. The small number of positive badges precluded meaningful analysis of associations between badge-use factors and contamination.

Despite universal microbial contamination, recovery of organisms associated with human infection from HCW identification badges was infrequent. These findings suggest that clinically significant bacterial contamination of HCW identification badges may be less common than previously reported. Routine badge cleaning and adherence to hand hygiene practices remain reasonable infection prevention measures.