Are hospital floors an underappreciated reservoir for transmission of health care-associated pathogens?

Am J Infect Control. 2017 Mar 1;45(3):336-338. doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2016.11.005.

Abstract

In a survey of 5 hospitals, we found that floors in patient rooms were frequently contaminated with pathogens and high-touch objects such as blood pressure cuffs and call buttons were often in contact with the floor. Contact with objects on floors frequently resulted in transfer of pathogens to hands.

Keywords: Clostridium difficile; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Vancomycin-resistant enterococci.

MeSH terms

  • Cross Infection / transmission*
  • Disease Transmission, Infectious*
  • Environmental Microbiology*
  • Floors and Floorcoverings*
  • Fomites / microbiology*
  • Hospitals
  • Humans
  • Patients' Rooms