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Curtains of privacy in patient rooms in hospitals could be potential carriers of deadly and drug-resistant superbugs
, a new study in Michigan revealed.
This follows reports that antimicrobial resistance is a growing problem around the world. This is why experts believe that the identification and cross-examination of sources is essential to combat this problem. The results of the study must therefore be taken seriously.
"As curtains of privacy are used all over the world, it is a global problem," he said.
Dr. Lona Mody, one of the co-authors of the new report, which will be presented
at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in Amsterdam.
Hospital curtains carry deadly bacteria
In the new study, Mody and his colleagues sampled at least 611 curtains in specialized services in six Michigan rehabilitation units and retirement homes.
The team sampled the curtains at the first admission of the patient, then again after two weeks, after one month, then every month until six months later, with a total of 1,521 samples collected at the end of the study.
They discovered that one in five curtains were filled with multidrug-resistant organisms and other deadly bacteria.
In fact, the researchers found that at least 28% of the curtains were contaminated with drug-resistant bacteria. They also found that 5% of the curtains were contaminated with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).
) and 17% were infected with vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE)
).
VRE was found to be the most prevalent in 210 of the laboratory-grown cultures. The ERV is a bacterium responsible for blood infections.
Mody explained that pathogens on privacy curtains often have the potential to transfer to other surfaces.
In addition, Mody and his team discovered that the same virus was contaminated by both curtains and bedridden patients. According to researchers, among one in seven cases, patients and their curtains contained multidrug-resistant organisms.
Other equipment and hospital tools are also contaminated with bacteria
This is not the first time that life-threatening bacteria are found on curtains or hospital equipment.
In 2012, a report revealed
12 of the 13 sampled curtains were contaminated after a week, while 41 of the 43 curtains were contaminated at least once, with 21% curtains contaminated with MRSA and 42% by ERV.
At the same time, another study presented at the Amsterdam conference revealed that tourniquets used by nurses are also contaminated by bacteria.
Portuguese scientists examined 20 studies of contaminated rubber and tissue bands used whenever nurses inserted a catheter or drew blood from patients.
This other study showed that at least 441 of the 1,500 reusable tourniquets had traces of coagulase-negative staphylococci, a bacterium that is normally part of human skin but can cause infections.
In addition, 15 of 20 studies reviewed by researchers revealed microbial contamination in 70% of tourniquets.
"The majority of these tourniquets badyzed contain huge amounts of microorganisms," said Dr. Nadia Osorio, a member of the Coimbra Polytechnic Institute team, who carried out the study. ;study.
What to do to prevent contamination with drug-resistant bacteria
What needs to be done to protect patients from transmitting bacteria from these contaminated curtains is that curtains need to be cleaned regularly, said Mody. Health care workers should also regularly wash their hands regularly. Another solution is to rethink the privacy curtains in order to have removable handles, added Mody.
Photo: Fotos GOVBA | Flickr
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