Researchers collected 232 samples from various sites, including the surface of biometric attendance devices, elevator buttons, door handles and staircase railings. They isolated, identified and conducted antibiotic susceptibility testing of the isolates using standard microbiological techniques. They recovered 219 bacterial isolates from 181 samples.
The study shows bacterial contamination for the following objects:
Elevator buttons (researchers collected 48 isolates)
• S. aureus: 22.9 percent
• S. epidermidis: 20.8 percent
• Enterococcus species: 8.3 percent
• Diphtheroids: 10.4 percent
• Micrococcus species: 14.6 percent
• Escherichia coli: 6.2 percent
• Pseudomonas species: 4.1 percent
• Acinetobacter species: 4.1 percent
Biometric attendance devices (researchers collected 24 isolates)
• S. aureus: 33.3 percent
• S. epidermidis: 25 percent
• Enterococcus species: 20.8 percent
• Diphtheroids: 16.6 percent
• Micrococcus species: 20.8 percent
• Escherichia coli: 8.3 percent
• Pseudomonas species: 12.5 percent
• Acinetobacter species: 12.5 percent
Door handles (researchers collected 80 isolates)
• S. aureus: 16.2 percent
• S. epidermidis: 13.7 percent
• Enterococcus species: 10 percent
• Diphtheroids: 8.7 percent
• Micrococcus species: 10 percent
• Escherichia coli: 5 percent
• Pseudomonas species: N/A
• Acinetobacter species: 5 percent
Telephone sets (researchers collected 30 isolates)
• S. aureus: 20 percent
• S. epidermidis: 13.3 percent
• Enterococcus species: 20 percent
• Diphtheroids: 26.6 percent
• Micrococcus species: 36.6 percent
• Escherichia coli: 10 percent
• Pseudomonas species: N/A
• Acinetobacter species: 16.6 percent
Railing (researchers collected 20 isolates)
• S. aureus: 15 percent
• S. epidermidis: 5 percent
• Enterococcus species: 10 percent
• Diphtheroids: 20 percent
• Micrococcus species: 10 percent
• Escherichia coli: 5 percent
• Pseudomonas species: N/A
• Acinetobacter species: 5 percent
Water taps (researchers collected 30 isolates)
• S. aureus: 10 percent
• S. epidermidis: 6.6 percent
• Enterococcus species: 10 percent
• Diphtheroids: 23.3 percent
• Micrococcus species: 13.3 percent
• Escherichia coli: 6.6 percent
• Pseudomonas species: 6.6 percent
• Acinetobacter species: 13.3 percent
Staphylococcus aureus was the most common bacterial isolate. Of the S. aureus isolates, 29.5 percent were multidrug resistant and 31.8 percent were biofilm producers.
More articles on healthcare quality:
CMS drops proposal to reduce public reporting of hospital infections, safety issues
DC veterans hospital staff urges new secretary: ‘Stop this cover-up and incompetence’
Joint Commission will require hospitals to report percentage of newborns with unexpected complications
At the Becker's 11th Annual IT + Revenue Cycle Conference: The Future of AI & Digital Health, taking place September 14–17 in Chicago, healthcare executives and digital leaders from across the country will come together to explore how AI, interoperability, cybersecurity, and revenue cycle innovation are transforming care delivery, strengthening financial performance, and driving the next era of digital health. Apply for complimentary registration now.