Bacterial Pathogens in Ambulances: Results of Unannounced Sample Collection

Alves, Donald W.; Bissell, Richard A.

doi:10.1080/10903120801906721

Cited by 41 publications

(46 citation statements)

References 20 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…These organisms can be brought into emergency service vehicles from the environment, from patients and/or from attendants, thus providing potential for transmission to future vehicle occupants. Therefore, emergency service vehicles and their associated equipment may act as vectors for infectious organisms [10][11][12][13]. This is of particular concern regarding those bacteria that pose an increased threat due to their resistance to known antibiotics, such as the difficult-to-treat bacteria methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and multi-resistant S. aureus (Multi-RSA).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Preliminary Assessment of Contamination of Emergency Service Helicopters with MRSA and Multi-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Makiela¹,

Taylor‐Robinson²,

Weber³

et al. 2016

Emerg Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Preliminary Assessment of Contamination of Emergency Service Helicopters with MRSA and Multi-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Makiela¹,

Taylor‐Robinson²,

Weber³

et al. 2016

Emerg Med

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

“…Effective IPC practices in the AS are extremely important for the prevention of microbial transmission to AS staff, patients who are undergoing intervention and the unit to which the patient is transferred (Alves and Bissell 2008;Becker et al 2003;Boal, Hales, and Ross 2005;Brown et al 2010;Fischer et al 2004;Galtelli, Deschamp, and Rogers 2006;Kanz 1981;Merchant et al 2009; Nigam and Cutter 2003b; Noh et al 2011a;Roline, Crumpecker and Dunn 2006). In this context, the importance of IPC practices for pre-hospital EMS has been understood and IPC guidelines have been prepared in some countries.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…On the other hand, IPC practices in pre-hospital emergency medical service (EMS) also known as the ambulance service (AS), which is one of the healthcare institutions, have been ignored (Alves and Bissell 2008; Noh et al 2011a;Ro et al 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…and Acinetobacter spp. have been detected by microbiological investigations in samples taken from the patient's cabin and medical equipment surfaces (Alves and Bissell 2008;Brown et al 2010;Fischer et al 2004;Galtelli, Deschamp, and Rogers 2006; Nigam and Cutter 2003b;Roline, Crumpecker, and Dunn 2006).Effective IPC practices in the AS are extremely important for the prevention of microbial transmission to AS staff, patients who are undergoing intervention and the unit to which the patient is transferred (Alves and Bissell 2008;Becker et al 2003;Boal, Hales, and Ross 2005;Brown et al 2010;Fischer et al 2004;Galtelli, Deschamp, and Rogers 2006;Kanz 1981;Merchant et al 2009; Nigam and Cutter 2003b; Noh et al 2011a;Roline, Crumpecker and Dunn 2006). In this context, the importance of IPC practices for pre-hospital EMS has been understood and IPC guidelines have been prepared in some countries.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

See 2 more Smart Citations

The infection prevention and control practices of the ambulance service

2017

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective: The aim of this research was to comprehensively evaluate the infection prevention and control practices of the ambulance service. Methods: This cross section survey was carried out in Izmir between June and September 2010. The study sample consisted of 213 ambulance service workers and all the emergency and rescue station buildings and ambulances. A questionnaire and two check-list forms were used as a means of data collection. Results: According to the employees' responses, an average of 25 (24.86±4.09) of 40 items of infection prevention and control criteria that are required to be met for the ambulance service were met, while 15 were not. In the observations, it was found that the infection prevention and control criteria for ambulances were met at an average of 32.96±5.22 out of 40. It was found that 33 out of 50 items of the criteria for infection prevention and control in ambulances were met while 17 were not. According to observations, an average of 6 (5.88±1.52) of 17 items of infection prevention and control criteria for emergency and rescue station buildings, were met while 11 were not. Conclusion: The questionnaire responses given by the ambulance personnel and observations made by the researchers in the ambulances and emergency and rescue station buildings suggest that the criteria set for infection prevention and control practices were not met at a satisfactory level, which meant the infection prevention and control practices were not sufficient. It is advised that an IPC guideline should be prepared to include standards and procedures to be followed by ambulance service personnel.Keywords: Emergency medical service; ambulance; ambulance; infection prevention and control practices; decontamination. Akbıyık, A., Esen Türeyen, A., & Özinel, M. A. (2017). The infection prevention and control practices of the ambulance service. Journal of Human Sciences, 14(2), 1225Sciences, 14(2), -1241.3943 IntroductionToday, infection prevention and control (IPC) practices recognized as a quality standard in healthcare institutions are more hospital-based. On the other hand, IPC practices in pre-hospital emergency medical service (EMS) also known as the ambulance service (AS), which is one of the healthcare institutions, have been ignored (Alves and Bissell 2008; Noh et al. 2011a;Ro et al. 2012).As in all health institutions, three components of the AS -the healthcare worker, the patient and the unit where the patient is transported -carry a risk of transmission of infectious agents. AS staff are a high risk group because of working condition such as the obligation to perform medical procedures while the ambulance is moving, lack of knowledge of the patient's disease history (Porter/patient HBV, HCV, HIV etc.), intervention in traumatic injuries, having to carry out a medical intervention in a confined space or a dark environment, and limited time for decontamination of the contaminated medical equipment and patient's cabin (Becker et al. 2003;Boal, Hales, and Ross 2005; Gershon et al. 1985;Hochr...

show abstract