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Dangerous bacteria that pose a particular threat to the elderly and hospitalized very sick patients survive on disposable hospital gowns and on stainless steel surfaces, even after cleaning.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the bacterium, called Clostridioides difficile or C. diff., Is causing nearly half a million infections each year. An estimated 29,000 infected people die.
The infection, which is transmitted from faecal to oral transmission, causes severe diarrhea and can lead to inflammation of the intestine and kidney failure. Those most at risk are people who have received strong antibiotics, as well as those with long stays in the hospital or those living in long-term care facilities such as the elderly.
This means that the cleanliness of these facilities is extremely important. But a new study, published Friday in Applied and Environmental Microbiology, shows how difficult it can be.
In laboratory studies, researchers found that C. diff spread easily from disposable gowns often used in surgery or infection control on stainless steel and vinyl surfaces.
"The [bacteria] also transferred to a vinyl floor, which was quite disturbing. We did not know that they would, "said Tina Joshi, lecturer in molecular microbiology at the University of Plymouth in the UK and lead author of the new study.
These bugs are evolving. These insects like to have a length in advance. And even if we use disinfectants and antibiotics appropriately, they will still become resistant over time. It's inevitable.
What's more, the bacteria did not die when researchers tried to eliminate them with a concentrated chlorine disinfectant.
"Even if we applied 1,000 parts per million chlorine, it would allow the spores to survive in the blouses," Joshi told NBC News.
It is possible that the increase in the amount of chlorine kills the spores, but if the spores actually become resistant to the disinfectant, it will only be a short time before the highest concentrations can kill them.
"These insects are evolving, they like to keep one step ahead, and even if we use disinfectants and antibiotics appropriately, they will still become resistant over time, which is inevitable," he said. Joshi.
C. diff infections can occur when a patient receives broad-spectrum antibiotics to fight another infection.
These antibiotics can eliminate a person's intestinal bacteria, but C. difficile survives. This allows the bacteria to proliferate throughout the intestine and eventually end up in the stool. If a person has severe diarrhea, for example, the bacteria can be thrown into the air and spread into a room. It is then that it is imperative to decontaminate the clothes, the curtains, the tables and the bed.
If the bacteria is not destroyed, hospitalized patients or people housed in nursing homes can become infected when they come in contact with contaminated surfaces, such as a food tray at the bedside of the patient.
But if traditional disinfectants are ineffective, as the new research suggests, what is working?
One option is UV light, which could be useful for killing bacteria. However, it can be difficult to ensure that all surfaces are fully exposed to light. At this point, said Joshi, highly concentrated bleach seems to be the best option.
For people who care at home for patients with weakened immune systems, the C. Diff Foundation claims that alcohol-based hand sanitizers and bleach wipes are available. are ineffective against bacteria.
On his website, the group recommends using instead a cleaning solution consisting of one cup of bleach for nine cups of water and let the mixture on surfaces while at minus 10 minutes.
Meanwhile, if C. diff spores can survive on gowns and other surfaces, it is also likely that they can live under the doctor's coat and the exfoliants worn by hospital staff all over the place. the day.
"This is a real risk of infection control because these spores can stick to the fibers, which we have proven in this article," said Joshi.
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