Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-dk4vv Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-22T22:21:29.906Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Comparison of nylon-flocked swab and cellulose sponge methods for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae and gram-negative organism recovery from high-touch surfaces in patient rooms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 August 2018

Clare Rock*
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland Johns Hopkins Medicine Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, Baltimore, Maryland Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
Michael Anderson
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Shawna Lewis
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Verna Scheeler
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Elaine Nowakowski
Affiliation:
Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
Yea-Jen Hsu
Affiliation:
Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
Aaron M. Milstone
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland Johns Hopkins Medicine Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, Baltimore, Maryland Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
Karen C. Carroll
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
Lisa L. Maragakis
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland Johns Hopkins Medicine Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, Baltimore, Maryland Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland
Patricia J. Simner
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
for the CDC Prevention Epicenters Program
Affiliation:
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland Johns Hopkins Medicine Armstrong Institute for Patient Safety and Quality, Baltimore, Maryland Department of Hospital Epidemiology and Infection Control, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland Health Policy and Management, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
*
Author for correspondence: Clare Rock, MD, MS, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases, 600 North Wolfe Street, Halsted 831, Baltimore, MD 21287-5425. E-mail: [email protected].

Abstract

The ideal sampling method and benefit of qualitative versus quantitative culture for carbapenem-resistant Enterobacteriaceae (CRE) recovery in hospitalized patient rooms and bathrooms is unknown. Although the use of nylon-flocked swabs improved overall gram-negative organism recovery compared with cellulose sponges, they were similar for CRE recovery. Quantitative culture was inferior and unrevealing beyond the qualitative results.

Type
Concise Communication
Copyright
© 2018 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Vital signs: carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae. Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report (MMWR). Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/mm6209a3.htm. Published 2013. Accessed June 25, 2018.Google Scholar
2. Rock, C, Curless, MS, Cantara, M, et al. Resolution of carbapenemase-producing Klebsiella pneumoniae outbreak in a tertiary cancer center; the role of active surveillance. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:11171119.Google Scholar
3. Galvin, S, Dolan, A, Cahill, O, Daniels, S, Humphreys, H. Microbial monitoring of the hospital environment: Why and how? J Hosp Infect 2012;82:143151.Google Scholar
4. Thom, KA, Howard, T, Sembajwe, S, et al. Comparison of swab and sponge methodologies for identification of Acinetobacter baumannii from the hospital environment. J Clin Microbiol 2012;50:21402141.Google Scholar
5. Hodges, LR, Rose, LJ, O’Connell, H, Arduino, MJ. National validation study of a swab protocol for the recovery of Bacillus anthracis spores from surfaces. J Microbiol Method 2010;81:141146.Google Scholar
6. Shams, AM, Rose, LJ, Edwards, JR, et al. Assessment of the overall and multidrug-resistant organism bioburden on environmental surfaces in healthcare facilities. Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2016;37:14261432.Google Scholar
7. Lerner, A, Adler, A, Abu-Hanna, J, Meitus, I, Navon-Venezia, S, Carmeli, Y. Environmental contamination by carbapenem-resistant enterobacteriaceae. J Clin Microbiol 2013;51:177181.Google Scholar
8. Hedin, G, Rynbäck, J, Loré, B. New technique to take samples from environmental surfaces using flocked nylon swabs. J Hosp Infect 2010;75:314317.Google Scholar
9. Sbarra, AN, Harris, AD, Johnson, JK, et al. Guidance on frequency and location of environmental sampling for Acinetobacter baumannii . Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2018;39:339342.Google Scholar
10. Torkar, KG, Ivić, S. Surveillance of bacterial colonisation on contact surfaces in different medical wards. Arh Hig Rada Toksikol 2017;68:116126.Google Scholar