Cover Image
QR Code

Is methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) contamination of ward-based computer terminals a surrogate marker for nosocomial MRSA transmission and handwashing compliance?

A survey of two acute district general hospitals (A and B) was undertaken to investigate the extent of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) contamination of ward-based computer terminals. Of 25 terminals examined, MRSA was identified in six (24%). Environmental contamination was of a l...

Full description

Published in:Journal of Hospital Infection Vol. 48; no. 1; pp. 72 - 76
Main Authors: Devine J, Cooke RPD, Wright EP
Format: research tables/charts Journal Article
Published: W B Saunders 2001 May
Online Access:View this record in EBSCOhost
fields @attributes:
  recordID: 1
pdfLink:
plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=107060969&site=ehost-live
header:
  @attributes:
    shortDbName: ccm
    uiTerm: 107060969
    longDbName: CINAHL Complete
    uiTag: AN
  controlInfo:
    bkinfo:
    dissinfo:
    jinfo:
      jid:
        01956701
        4C3
      jtl: Journal of Hospital Infection
      issn: 01956701
      maglogo: N
    pubinfo:
      dt: 2001 May
      vid: 48
      iid: 1
      pid: 1351
      pub: W B Saunders
      place: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
    artinfo:
      ui:
        107060969
        107060969
        2001095888
        NLM11358473
        107060969
      ppf: 72
      ppct: 4
      formats:
      tig:
        atl: Is methicillin-resistant staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) contamination of ward-based computer terminals a surrogate marker for nosocomial MRSA transmission and handwashing compliance?
      aug:
        au:
          Devine J
          Cooke RPD
          Wright EP
        affil: Departments of Medical Microbiology and Infection Control, District General Hospital, Eastbourne, East Sussex BN21 2UD
      sug:
        subj:
          Methicillin Resistance
          Keyboards
          Staphylococcal Infections Transmission
          Equipment Contamination
          Risk Assessment
          Infection Control Methods
          Cross Infection Prevention and Control
          Surveys
          Confidence Intervals
          Fisher's Exact Test
          Human
      ab: A survey of two acute district general hospitals (A and B) was undertaken to investigate the extent of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) contamination of ward-based computer terminals. Of 25 terminals examined, MRSA was identified in six (24%). Environmental contamination was of a low level. Five of the MRSA positive terminals were from hospital A which had a significantly higher rate of MRSA transmission compared to hospital B (1.02 vs. 0.49 new inpatient MRSA cases per 100 hospital admissions for 1999). MRSA containment and handwashing policies were similar at both hospitals, though only hospital B actively audited handwashing compliance and had a 44% higher rate of paper towel usage per hospital bed. Ward-based computer terminals pose a low risk of MRSA cross-infection. This risk can be further reduced if all staff wash their hands before and after patient contact. Copyright 2001 The Hospital Infection Society.
      pubtype: Academic Journal
      doctype:
        research
        tables/charts
        Journal Article
      ougenre: Article
    language: English
    refInfo:
    holdings:
      @attributes:
        islocal: N