Dangerous superbugs found on the hands of many patients in the hospital

Superbugs are multidrug-resistant organisms, also called MDROs. the Bacteria can cause conditions such as pneumonia, urinary tract infections and skin infections, to name a few.

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On the patient's hands

Now, a new hospital study reveals that they are everywhere in the hands of patients. The research revealed that f14% of the 399 hospitalized patients had a superbus on their hands or nostrils very early in their stay in the hospital.

Worse still, nearly one-third of the objects that patients frequently touched also had superbugs. In addition, 6% of patients who did not initially have superbugs had a positive test for them later during their stay.

"The speech on hand hygiene is largely focused on doctors, nurses and other front-line staff, and all policies and performance measures are focused and rightly so" said Lona Mody, MD, M.Sc., a geriatrician of the University of Michigan epidemiologist and patient safety researcher who led the research team.

"But our results argue in favor of a treatment of MDRO transmission also involving patients."

The study also revealed that six patients had developed a superbug infection called methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus or MRSA. These patients were all tested positive for MRSA on their hands and surfaces.

Genetic fingerprints

The researchers used genetic fingerprinting techniques to determine if the same strain of MRSA bacteria on the patients' hands was the one in their room. In almost all cases, the two corresponded.

However, note the researchers, the question of where patients have recovered MDROs remains a mystery. As patients are often encouraged to walk around the hospital, the risk of collecting and spreading MDROs increases.

"Infection prevention is everyone's business," says Mody, a professor of internal medicine at the U-M School of Medicine.

"We are all in the same boat, no matter where you are, in a medical environment or not, this study reminds you to wash your hands often, using good techniques – especially before and after food preparation, before eating, after meals, using the toilet, and before and after taking care of someone who is sick, to protect themselves and others. "

The study is published in Clinical infectious diseases.