BACKGROUND: Cleaned electrocardiographic lead wires are a potential source of microorganisms capable of causing nosocomial infection. OBJECTIVES: To examine fungal and bacterial growth on cleaned reusable lead wires, determine if microbial growth is associated with hospital site or work environment, determine the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and learn if antibiotic-resistant bacteria are associated with hospital site and work environment. METHODS: Cleaned lead wires (N = 320) from critical care and telemetry units, emergency departments, and operating rooms of 4 hospitals were swabbed and the specimens cultured for microbial growth. Bacterial species were grouped by their risk for human infection: at risk (n = 9), potential risk (n = 5), and no risk (n = 10). Work environments were compared by using pairwise contrasts from a generalized estimating equation model. RESULTS: Fungi were rare (0.6%). Of 226 cultures from 201 wires (62.8%) with bacterial growth, 121 were of at- or potential-risk bacteria (37.8%). Urban hospitals had less growth (P ≤ .001) and fewer bacterial species per wire (P ≤ .001) than did community hospitals. Presence of any bacteria (P = .02) and number of bacterial species per wire (P = .002) were lowest in operating rooms; emergency departments and telemetry units had more growth than did critical care units. Among specimens of staphylococci and enterococci, 6 each were sensitive to antibiotics; of 4 resistant staphylococcal species, 1 was not a human opportunistic pathogen and 3 were potential-risk species. CONCLUSIONS: Bacteria are common on reusable, cleaned lead wires and differ by hospital and clinical area.
BACKGROUND: Cleaned electrocardiographic lead wires are a potential source of microorganisms capable of causing nosocomial infection. OBJECTIVES: To examine fungal and bacterial growth on cleaned reusable lead wires, determine if microbial growth is associated with hospital site or work environment, determine the prevalence of antibiotic-resistant bacteria, and learn if antibiotic-resistant bacteria are associated with hospital site and work environment. METHODS: Cleaned lead wires (N = 320) from critical care and telemetry units, emergency departments, and operating rooms of 4 hospitals were swabbed and the specimens cultured for microbial growth. Bacterial species were grouped by their risk for human infection: at risk (n = 9), potential risk (n = 5), and no risk (n = 10). Work environments were compared by using pairwise contrasts from a generalized estimating equation model. RESULTS: Fungi were rare (0.6%). Of 226 cultures from 201 wires (62.8%) with bacterial growth, 121 were of at- or potential-risk bacteria (37.8%). Urban hospitals had less growth (P ≤ .001) and fewer bacterial species per wire (P ≤ .001) than did community hospitals. Presence of any bacteria (P = .02) and number of bacterial species per wire (P = .002) were lowest in operating rooms; emergency departments and telemetry units had more growth than did critical care units. Among specimens of staphylococci and enterococci, 6 each were sensitive to antibiotics; of 4 resistant staphylococcal species, 1 was not a human opportunistic pathogen and 3 were potential-risk species. CONCLUSIONS: Bacteria are common on reusable, cleaned lead wires and differ by hospital and clinical area.
Authors: Alice Reshamwala; Kathryn McBroom; Yong Il Choi; Linda LaTour; Antoinette Ramos-Embler; Rowena Steele; Virginia Lomugdang; Margaret Newman; Colleen Reid; Yanfang Zhao; Bradi B Granger Journal: Am J Crit Care Date: 2013-09 Impact factor: 2.228
Authors: Aydin Farajidavar; Gregory O'Grady; Smitha M N Rao; Leo K Cheng; Thomas Abell; J-C Chiao Journal: Physiol Meas Date: 2012-06 Impact factor: 2.833
Authors: N Paskaranandavadivel; R Wang; S Sathar; G O'Grady; L K Cheng; A Farajidavar Journal: Neurogastroenterol Motil Date: 2015-01-20 Impact factor: 3.598