Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-gb8f7 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-27T10:54:16.889Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Bacterial contamination in a modern operating suite. 4. Bacterial contamination of clothes worn in the suite

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

A. Hambraeus ,
S. Bengtsson  and
G. Laurell
A. Hambraeus
Affiliation:
Institute of Clinical Bacteriology, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden
S. Bengtsson
Affiliation:
Institute of Clinical Bacteriology, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden
G. Laurell
Affiliation:
Institute of Clinical Bacteriology, University of Uppsala, Uppsala, Sweden
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

Clean clothes in the staff dressing rooms were heavily contaminated with bacteria, mainly Bacillus sp., but Staphylococcus aureus were found on 14% and Clostridium sp. on 10% of the garments examined. A comparison of the occurrence of Staph. aureus on shirts worn by staff in wards and operating departments showed ward shirts to be contaminated more heavily and with more strains. Examination of sterile gowns worn by surgeons showed that 70% were contaminated with Staph. aureus after operation. Of the strains isolated 31% were identical with those carried by the surgeon or by the patient operated on, but for the remainder no source could be found.

Type
Research Article
Information
Journal of Hygiene , Volume 80 , Issue 2 , April 1978 , pp. 175 - 181
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1978

References

REFERENCES

Blair, J. E. & Williams, R. E. O. (1961). Phage-typing of staphylococci. Bulletin of the World Health Organization 24, 771.Google ScholarPubMed
Charnley, J. & Eftekhar, N. (1968). Centre for Hip Surgery, Wrightington Hospital, Internal Publication, no. 19.Google Scholar
Church, B. D. & Loosli, C. G. (1953). The role of the laundry in the recontamination of washed bedding. Journal of Infectious Diseases 93, 65.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Duguid, J. P. & Wallace, A. T. (1948). Air infection with dust liberated from clothing. Lancet ii, 845.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hambraeus, A. (1973). Transfer of Staphylococcus aureus via nurses' uniforms. Journal of Hygiene 71, 799.Google ScholarPubMed
Lidwell, O. M., Towers, A. G., Ballard, J. & Gladstone, B. (1974). Transfer of microorganisms between nurses and patients in a clean air environment. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 37, 649.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Reber, H., Koenig, M. & Zinkernagel, R. (1962). Probleme der Wãschedesinfektion I, II. Pathologia et Microbiologia (Basel) 25, 547, 562.Google Scholar
Sykes, G. (1970). The control of airborne contamination in sterile areas. In Aerobiology Proceedings of the Third International Symposium (ed.) Silver, J. H.. London, New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Whyte, W., Vesley, D. & Hodgson, R. (1976). Bacterial dispersion in relation to operating room clothing. Journal of Hygiene 76, 367.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed