Exploring bacterial growth and recolonization after preoperative hand disinfection and surgery between operating room nurses and non-health care workers: a pilot study

Abstract

BackgroundTo prevent cross infection the surgical team perform preoperative hand disinfection before dressed in surgical gowns and gloves. Preoperative hand disinfection does not make hands sterile and the surgical glove cuff end has been regarded as a weak link, since it is not a liquid-proof interface. The aims were to investigate if there were differences in bacterial growth and recolonization of hands between operating room nurses and non-health care workers as well as to investigate if bacterial growth existed at the surgical glove cuff end during surgery.MethodsThis pilot project was conducted as an exploratory comparative clinical trial. Bacterial cultures were taken from the glove and gown interface and at three sites of the hands of 12 operating room nurses and 13 non-health care workers controls directly after preoperative hand disinfection and again after wearing surgical gloves and gowns. Colony forming units were analysed with Mann-Whitney U test and Wilcoxon Sign Ranks test comparing repeated measurements. Categorical variables were evaluated with chi-square test or Fisher’s exact test.ResultsOperating room nurses compared to non-health care workers had significant higher bacterial growth at two of three culture sites after surgical hand disinfection. Both groups had higher recolonization at one of the three culture sites after wearing surgical gloves. There were no differences between the groups in total colony forming units, that is, all sampling sites. Five out of 12 of the operating room nurses had bacterial growth at the glove cuff end and of those, four had the same bacteria at the glove cuff end as found in the cultures from the hands. Bacteria isolated from the glove cuff were P. acnes, S. warneri, S. epidermidis and Micrococcus species, the CFU/mL ranged from 10 to 40.ConclusionsThere were differences in bacterial growth and re-colonization between the groups but this was inconclusive. However, bacterial growth exists at the glove cuff and gown interface, further investigation in larger study is needed, to build on these promising, but preliminary, findings.Trial registrationTrial registration was performed prospectively at Research web (FOU in Sweden, 117,971) 14/01/2013, and retrospectively at ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT02359708). 01/27/2015.

The Supervision and Management Mode of Disinfection Supply Center Improves the Standardization of Sterile Goods Management in Clinical Departments

“…The quality control of the final use of sterile articles in departments has attracted more and more attention from nursing experts [13][14][15]. Clinical nurses lack understanding of the standardized management of sterilized articles [16]. Therefore, the staff of the disinfection supply center should give full play to their professional ability and improve the standardization of the management of sterilized articles in clinical departments with a scientific and standardized attitude under the guidance of the nursing department and infection control department.…”

Wearing Occlusive Gloves Increases the Density of Staphylococcus aureus in Patients with Hand Eczema

“…However, occlusive gloves generate heat and moisture inside the glove, and may consequently cause irritant contact dermatitis (9,10). Theoretically, oc-clusive gloves may serve as a rich reservoir for bacteria to multiply (11,12). The influence of prolonged wearing of occlusive gloves on bacterial growth on the hands has been only sparsely investigated (11)(12)(13).…”

“…Theoretically, oc-clusive gloves may serve as a rich reservoir for bacteria to multiply (11,12). The influence of prolonged wearing of occlusive gloves on bacterial growth on the hands has been only sparsely investigated (11)(12)(13). These studies found bacterial growth of commensal skin flora on noneczematous hands of surgeons after an operation despite a pre-operational procedure including alcohol-based hand rub (ABHR) (11,13).…”

Comparação Da Microbiota Das Mãos De Estudantes De Medicina Do 1° E 6° Ano

“…Além disso, estudos demonstraram que as bactérias isoladas das mãos dos profissionais de saúde também foram encontradas em utensílios hospitalares como mesa, maçanetas e balcões [3]. Ademais, foi demonstrado a importância préoperatória da higienização das mãos com água corrente e sabão e, em seguida, secando as mãos e antebraços adequadamente com papel e esfregando com álcool líquido, antes de vestir os aventais e luvas cirúrgicas, com o objetivo de prevenir a infecção cruzada [8].…”