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Contaminated Portable Equipment Is a Potential Vector for Dissemination of Pathogens in the Intensive Care Unit

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  07 August 2017

Amrita John ,
Heba Alhmidi ,
Jennifer L. Cadnum ,
Annette L. Jencson  and
Curtis J. Donskey
Amrita John
Affiliation:
Department of Medicine, Division of Infectious Diseases and HIV Medicine, University Hospitals Case Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Heba Alhmidi
Affiliation:
Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Jennifer L. Cadnum
Affiliation:
Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Annette L. Jencson
Affiliation:
Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Curtis J. Donskey*
Affiliation:
Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio.
*
Address correspondence to Curtis J. Donskey, MD, Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical Center, 10701 East Boulevard, Cleveland, Ohio 44106 ([email protected]).
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Abstract

A DNA marker inoculated onto shared portable equipment in surgical and medical intensive care units disseminated widely to surfaces in patient rooms and provider work areas and to other types of portable equipment. These results demonstrate the potential for contaminated portable equipment to serve as a vector for dissemination of pathogens.

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol 2017;38:1247–1249

Type
Concise Communications
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 38 , Issue 10 , October 2017 , pp. 1247 - 1249
Copyright
© 2017 by The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America. All rights reserved 

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References

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