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Scissors: A Potential Source of Nosocomial Infection

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2015

John M. Embil ,
George G. Zhanel ,
Pierre J. Plourde  and
Daryl Hoban
John M. Embil*
Affiliation:
Section of Infectious Diseases, Departments of Internal Medicine and Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba; and the Infection Control Unit, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
George G. Zhanel
Affiliation:
Section of Infectious Diseases, Departments of Internal Medicine and Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba; and the Department of Clinical Microbiology, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Pierre J. Plourde
Affiliation:
Section of Infectious Diseases, Departments of Internal Medicine and Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba; and the Infection Control Unit, St. Boniface General Hospital, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
Daryl Hoban
Affiliation:
Department of Medical Microbiology, University of Manitoba; and the Department of Clinical Microbiology, Health Sciences Centre, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
*
Infection Control Unit, Health Sciences Centre, MS 673-820 Skerbrook St., Winnipeg, Manitoba R3A 1R9, Canada
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Abstract

This point-prevalence survey of healthcare workers' scissors demonstrates that of 232 scissors sampled, 182 (78.4%) were colonized with bacteria. The scissors of nurses and those for communal use were most frequently contaminated. Cleaning of scissors occurred infrequently, but wiping scissors with an alcohol swab effectively disinfected them. The suspicion that scissors may harbor and potentially transmit microorganisms, including antibiotic-resistant bacteria, has been confirmed.

Type
Concise Communications
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 23 , Issue 3 , March 2002 , pp. 147 - 151
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 2002

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