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Transfer of Staphylococcus aureus via nurses' uniforms
The Journal of Hygiene
|December 1, 1973
Summary
Nurses uniforms can transfer Staphylococcus aureus from burn patients. Wearing protective gowns significantly reduces staphylococcal transfer to the air and model patients, primarily by preventing gown contamination.
Area of Science:
- Infection Control
- Microbiology
- Healthcare Epidemiology
Background:
- Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) remain a significant concern in clinical settings, particularly in specialized units like burn care.
- The role of uniforms and personal protective equipment (PPE) in the transmission of pathogenic bacteria, such as Staphylococcus aureus, is critical to understand.
- Previous studies indicated potential discrepancies in bacterial particle transfer versus airborne tracers in hospital wards.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the level of Staphylococcus aureus contamination on nurses' gowns and uniforms in a burns unit.
- To quantify the transfer of staphylococci from patients to the environment and personnel via nurses' clothing.
- To evaluate the effectiveness of protective gowns in minimizing bacterial contamination and transfer during patient care.
Main Methods:
- Median bacterial counts of staphylococci on nurses' gowns and jackets were determined during routine procedures.
- Model nursing experiments were conducted to assess the transfer rate of staphylococci from a patient's room to the air and a model patient.
- The study compared bacterial transfer rates with and without the use of protective gowns.
Main Results:
- Median staphylococcal contamination levels were 3.0 x 10(4) on gowns and 1.4 x 10(3) on jackets.
- Protective gowns reduced staphylococcal transfer to the air by 4 to 10 times and to a model patient by 100 times compared to no gowns.
- The primary protective benefit of gowns was preventing contamination of the underlying uniform.
Conclusions:
- Nurses' uniforms can act as a significant vehicle for Staphylococcus aureus transmission in a burns unit.
- The use of protective gowns is highly effective in reducing the spread of staphylococci from patients to the environment and healthcare workers.
- The findings help explain previous observations of bacterial dispersal and underscore the importance of PPE in infection control.