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A new study in Georgia found that bullet holes in physiotherapy clinics were contaminated with germs that could make children sick. The researchers said the findings underscore the need to improve equipment cleaning and maintenance. ( Tasha Frey | Flickr )
Ball pits promise fun and games for little kids, but a new study has found that these fun areas are actually contaminated with germs that can make children sick.
Physiotherapy clinics have baseball pits to stimulate children with impaired motor or visual abilities.
A team of researchers from the University of North Georgia examined six log pits found at several inpatient and ambulatory physiotherapy clinics in Georgia and selected from 9 to 15 bullets for random samples.
The researchers found that there was considerable microbial colonization in the pits, including eight types of bacteria and yeast that can cause illness in children.
The burrows are contaminated by germs
The researchers of the study, which was published in the American Journal of Infection Control, explained that bacterial contamination for each bullet examined was as high as thousands of cells per bullet.
This has clearly shown that there is a higher risk of possible transmission of these bacterial organisms to patients, as well as a higher risk of infection in children, the researchers said.
The study revealed a total of 31 different bacterial specimens and one species of yeast in the log pits in Georgia.
In addition, scientists have found traces of Staphylococcus hominis, Enterococcus faecalis, Acinetobacter lwofii and Streptococcus oralis in all burrows. These organisms are "man-badociated bacteria" that cause bad infections.
For example, Staphylococcus hominis can cause bloodstream infections and has even been shown to cause sepsis.
Second, the bacterium Enterococcus faecalis can cause urinary tract infection, sepsis, meningitis and endocarditis.
Third, Acinetobacter lwofii has been found to cause pneumonia, meningitis, urinary tract infections, skin infections and sepsis.
Finally, Streptococcus oralis can cause adult respiratory syndrome, streptococcal shock and endocarditis.
What must be done to protect children?
Karen Hoffmann, president of the Association of Professionals in Infection Control, said the findings of the study were very important.
"This research shows that pits can pose a risk of infection," Hoffmann said.
The results suggest that one of the problems is that the pits are not cleaned as often as they should.
In fact, physiotherapy clinics can even wait days to weeks before cleaning, which can leave bacteria and yeasts to accumulate and grow to levels that can transmit and infect.
Mary Ellen Oesterle, EdD, PT, lead author of the study, explained that clinics use different protocols for maintenance and cleaning, which represents a need for clarification and setting standards capable of to reduce the risk of bacterial transmission.
Hoffmann added that facilities should put in place a regular cleaning program to protect caregivers and patients from the risks of potential infection.
The findings of the study are based on information revealing that most hospital equipment, such as curtains for the protection of personal data, contains superbugs resistant to antibiotics. Previous research has also revealed that patients' hands and nostrils have traces of superbugs that are resistant to antibiotics.
All of these studies highlight the growing need for a more established practice of cleaning and maintaining equipment, whether it is a clinic ball field or privacy curtains in a clinic. hospital room.
Photo: Tasha Frey | Flickr
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