A recent study conducted at the Central Texas Veterans Health care System has revealed that high-touch surfaces in hospitals remain contaminated with harmful microbes, even after routine disinfection protocols. Bed rails and nurse’s station keyboards were among the surfaces found to harbor multiple colonies of bacteria, including known human pathogens. The study highlights the need for new approaches in disinfection to reduce high-touch surface contamination and protect the health of both patients and hospital employees.
A recent study conducted at the Central Texas Veterans Health care System has shed light on the presence of harmful bacteria on high-touch surfaces in hospitals, despite routine disinfection protocols. The researchers identified bed rails and nurse’s station keyboards as some of the surfaces that harbored multiple colonies of bacteria.
What’s concerning is that out of the 60 types of pathogens isolated, 7 were deemed important in healthcare settings due to their potential to cause healthcare-associated infections (HAIs). These HAIs can be quite serious and lead to various complications for patients.
What’s even more surprising is that some previously considered harmless organisms were found to have the potential to be opportunistic pathogens. This means that under certain conditions, they can turn harmful and cause infections.
Interestingly, the study found that medical manikins and bed rails had the highest variety of bacterial species among the high-touch surfaces tested. While manikins are not typically considered high-touch surfaces, they can still be a potential source of pathogen transmission if not properly disinfected.
Out of the identified organisms, 18 were known human pathogens, including Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. These are bacteria that can cause a range of infections and pose a threat to patient health.
In fact, the hospital’s clinical microbiology laboratory was able to identify 29 of the surface organisms in clinical isolates, indicating their potential impact on patient infections. This highlights the importance of addressing the issue of high-touch surface contamination in hospitals.
The study suggests that new approaches are needed to reduce high-touch surface contamination. These could include utilizing new chemical disinfectants, using no-touch devices, and implementing self-disinfecting surfaces like copper.
Dr. John Smith, the senior study author, emphasizes the significance of protecting the health of patients and hospital employees in light of these findings. It’s clear that more effective strategies for disinfecting high-touch surfaces are crucial in order to prevent the spread of harmful bacteria and reduce healthcare-associated infections.
This study serves as a reminder of the ongoing challenge of reducing HAIs and highlights the need for innovative strategies to improve the disinfection of high-touch surfaces in hospitals. By implementing these strategies, we can help create safer environments for patients and healthcare workers alike.