Environmental reservoirs of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus in isolation rooms: correlation with patient isolates and implications for hospital hygiene

Empfehlungen zur Prävention und Kontrolle von Methicillin-resistenten Staphylococcus aureus-Stämmen (MRSA) in medizinischen und pflegerischen Einrichtungen

“…MRSA wird von kolonisierten und infizierten Personen in die Umgebung abgegeben [168]. Auf unbelebten Oberflächen und im Staub kann S. aureus zwischen 7 Tagen und 7 Monaten über-leben [169].…”

Condition of cleanliness of surfaces close to patients in an intensive care unit

“…Numerous studies illustrate that many different inanimate surfaces in hospitals can become a reservoir for MRSA . Several studies specifically address environmental MRSA contamination within isolation units (4)(5)(6)(7)(11)(12)(18)(19)(20)(21)(22)(23) .…”

“…In addition, there has been increased recognition that environmental measures should form a crucial component of the overall strategy for preventing healthcare-associated infections (1)(2)(3)(4)(5)(6)(7) .…”

Are hygiene standards useful in assessing infection risk?

“…4 Indistinguishable strains were recovered from different sites around the ward, sometimes weeks apart. 4,7,8 Several studies have indicated the importance of hand-touch sites as likely sources of HAI transmission via hands, and there may well be benefits from targeted cleaning of these sites. 1,9 The decontamination of clinical equipment is a nursing responsibility 8 but nurses' main priority is patient care, which may supersede cleaning duties when they are busy.…”