Hannah P Sassi1, Laura Y Sifuentes2, David W Koenig3, Emmalee Nichols4, Jocelyn Clark-Greuel4, Lung Fai Wong5, Kevin McGrath5, Charles P Gerba1, Kelly A Reynolds6. 1. Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. 2. Department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Science, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ. Electronic address: lys@email.arizona.edu. 3. Corporate Research and Engineering, Kimberly-Clark Corp, Neenah, WI. 4. Global Clinical Affairs, Kimberly-Clark Corp, Neenah, WI. 5. Kimberly-Clark Corp, Roswell, GA. 6. Mel and Enid Zuckerman College of Public Health, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Approximately 50% of norovirus cases in the United States occur in long-term care facilities; many incidences of rotavirus, sapovirus, and adenovirus also occur. The primary objectives of this study were to demonstrate movement of pathogenic viruses through a long-term care facility and to determine the impact of a hygiene intervention on viral transmission. METHODS: The coliphage MS-2 was seeded onto a staff member's hands, and samples were collected after 4 hours from fomites and hands. After 3 consecutive days of sample collection, a 14-day hygiene intervention was implemented. Hand sanitizers, hand and face wipes, antiviral tissues, and a disinfectant spray were distributed to employees and residents. Seeding and sampling were repeated postintervention. RESULTS: Analysis of the pre- and postintervention data was performed using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Significant reductions in the spread of MS-2 on hands (P = .0002) and fomites (P = .04) were observed postintervention, with a >99% average reduction of virus recovered from both hands and fomites. CONCLUSION: Although MS-2 spread readily from hands to fomites and vice versa, the intervention reduced average MS-2 concentrations recovered from hands and fomites by up to 4 logs and also reduced the incidence of MS-2 recovery.
BACKGROUND: Approximately 50% of norovirus cases in the United States occur in long-term care facilities; many incidences of rotavirus, sapovirus, and adenovirus also occur. The primary objectives of this study were to demonstrate movement of pathogenic viruses through a long-term care facility and to determine the impact of a hygiene intervention on viral transmission. METHODS: The coliphage MS-2 was seeded onto a staff member's hands, and samples were collected after 4 hours from fomites and hands. After 3 consecutive days of sample collection, a 14-day hygiene intervention was implemented. Hand sanitizers, hand and face wipes, antiviral tissues, and a disinfectant spray were distributed to employees and residents. Seeding and sampling were repeated postintervention. RESULTS: Analysis of the pre- and postintervention data was performed using a Wilcoxon signed-rank test. Significant reductions in the spread of MS-2 on hands (P = .0002) and fomites (P = .04) were observed postintervention, with a >99% average reduction of virus recovered from both hands and fomites. CONCLUSION: Although MS-2 spread readily from hands to fomites and vice versa, the intervention reduced average MS-2 concentrations recovered from hands and fomites by up to 4 logs and also reduced the incidence of MS-2 recovery.
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Authors: Jennie H Kwon; Carey-Ann D Burnham; Kimberly A Reske; Stephen Y Liang; Tiffany Hink; Meghan A Wallace; Angela Shupe; Sondra Seiler; Candice Cass; Victoria J Fraser; Erik R Dubberke Journal: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Date: 2017-06-13 Impact factor: 3.254
Authors: Kelly A Reynolds; Jonathan D Sexton; Trevor Pivo; Kyle Humphrey; Rachel A Leslie; Charles P Gerba Journal: Am J Infect Control Date: 2018-09-05 Impact factor: 2.918
Authors: Jennie H Kwon; Kimberly Reske; Caroline A O'Neil; Candice Cass; Sondra Seiler; Meghan A Wallace; Tiffany Hink; Stephen Y Liang; Victoria J Fraser; Carey-Ann D Burnham; Erik R Dubberke Journal: Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol Date: 2020-01-23 Impact factor: 3.254