Andreas Gutzeit1,2,3, Frank Steffen4, Juri Gutzeit5, Junus Gutzeit5, Sebastian Kos5, Stephan Pfister5, Livia Berlinger6, Matthias Anderegg5, Carolin Reischauer5, Ilona Funke7, Johannes M Froehlich5,8, Dow-Mu Koh9, Christina Orasch10. 1. Department of Radiology, Paracelsus Medical University Salzburg, Salzburg, Austria. andreas.gutzeit@hirslanden.ch. 2. Institute of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna, St. Anna-Strasse 32, 6006, Lucerne, Switzerland. andreas.gutzeit@hirslanden.ch. 3. Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5 / 10, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland. andreas.gutzeit@hirslanden.ch. 4. Section of Small Animal Surgery/Neurology, Tierklinik Obergrund, Luzern, Switzerland. 5. Institute of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna, St. Anna-Strasse 32, 6006, Lucerne, Switzerland. 6. Microbiology Laboratory, Bioanalytica and Bioexam AG, Maihofstrasse 95A, 6006, Lucerne, Switzerland. 7. Head of General Management Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna, St. Anna Strasse 32, 6006, Lucerne, Switzerland. 8. Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, ETH Zurich, Vladimir-Prelog-Weg 1-5 / 10, 8093, Zurich, Switzerland. 9. Department of Radiology, Royal Marsden Hospital, Sutton, Surrey, UK. 10. Department of Infectious Diseases and Hospital Epidemiology, Hirslanden Klinik St. Anna, St. Anna Strasse 32, 6006, Lucerne, Switzerland.
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether it would be hygienic to evaluate dogs and humans in the same MRI scanner. METHODS: We compared the bacterial load in colony-forming units (CFU) of human-pathogenic microorganisms in specimens taken from 18 men and 30 dogs. In addition, we compared the extent of bacterial contamination of an MRI scanner shared by dogs and humans with two other MRI scanners used exclusively by humans. RESULTS: Our study shows a significantly higher bacterial load in specimens taken from men's beards compared with dogs' fur (p = 0.036). All of the men (18/18) showed high microbial counts, whereas only 23/30 dogs had high microbial counts and 7 dogs moderate microbial counts. Furthermore, human-pathogenic microorganisms were more frequently found in human beards (7/18) than in dog fur (4/30), although this difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.074). More microbes were found in human oral cavities than in dog oral cavities (p < 0.001). After MRI of dogs, routine scanner disinfection was undertaken and the CFU found in specimens isolated from the MRI scanning table and receiver coils showed significantly lower bacteria count compared with "human" MRI scanners (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study shows that bearded men harbour significantly higher burden of microbes and more human-pathogenic strains than dogs. As the MRI scanner used for both dogs and humans was routinely cleaned after animal scanning, there was substantially lower bacterial load compared with scanners used exclusively for humans. KEY POINTS: • Bearded men harbour significantly more microbes than dogs. • Dogs are no risk to humans if they use the same MRI. • Deficits in hospital hygiene are a relevant risk for patients.
OBJECTIVES: To determine whether it would be hygienic to evaluate dogs and humans in the same MRI scanner. METHODS: We compared the bacterial load in colony-forming units (CFU) of human-pathogenic microorganisms in specimens taken from 18 men and 30 dogs. In addition, we compared the extent of bacterial contamination of an MRI scanner shared by dogs and humans with two other MRI scanners used exclusively by humans. RESULTS: Our study shows a significantly higher bacterial load in specimens taken from men's beards compared with dogs' fur (p = 0.036). All of the men (18/18) showed high microbial counts, whereas only 23/30 dogs had high microbial counts and 7 dogs moderate microbial counts. Furthermore, human-pathogenic microorganisms were more frequently found in human beards (7/18) than in dog fur (4/30), although this difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.074). More microbes were found in human oral cavities than in dog oral cavities (p < 0.001). After MRI of dogs, routine scanner disinfection was undertaken and the CFU found in specimens isolated from the MRI scanning table and receiver coils showed significantly lower bacteria count compared with "human" MRI scanners (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION: Our study shows that bearded men harbour significantly higher burden of microbes and more human-pathogenic strains than dogs. As the MRI scanner used for both dogs and humans was routinely cleaned after animal scanning, there was substantially lower bacterial load compared with scanners used exclusively for humans. KEY POINTS: • Bearded men harbour significantly more microbes than dogs. • Dogs are no risk to humans if they use the same MRI. • Deficits in hospital hygiene are a relevant risk for patients.
Authors: R Monina Klevens; Jonathan R Edwards; Chesley L Richards; Teresa C Horan; Robert P Gaynes; Daniel A Pollock; Denise M Cardo Journal: Public Health Rep Date: 2007 Mar-Apr Impact factor: 2.792
Authors: Sheila Torres; Jonathan B Clayton; Jessica L Danzeisen; Tonya Ward; Hu Huang; Dan Knights; Timothy J Johnson Journal: PeerJ Date: 2017-03-09 Impact factor: 2.984