Gender Influences Bacterial Contamination of Reusable Cleanroom Operators’ Garments following Wear

Smith, Laurie; Driscoll, Noëlle H. O’; Lamb, Andrew J.

doi:10.37521/ejpps25202

Cited by 3 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 38 publications

(58 reference statements)

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“…Bacterial isolates were recovered during our study examining influence of gender on the surface contamination of clean room operators' garments following wear (32). During this investigation the surface of clean room operators' garments were tested within the exit area of the changing area, prior to garment removal and immediately following their period of working in the cleanroom environment.…”

Section: Bacterial Recoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

“…These studies confirmed properly gowned operatives disperse approximately 17,000 particles (21), including 180 MCPs per minute into the cleanroom environment (20). The polyester fibres of reusable garments were found to offer a substratum for microbial adherence, survival and growth (28)(29)(30) and that garment surfaces are subject to bacterial contamination following wear (31,32). In turn, garments become a vector for microbial dissemination within a cleanroom either via indirect airborne transmission (33) or direct surface transfer (34,35).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Identification of Bacterial Isolates Recovered from the Surface of Cleanroom Operators’ Garments following Wear

Smith

Lowes

Driscoll

et al. 2022

EJPPS

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Background Contamination of sterile pharmaceutical products can have serious consequences, in worst case scenario resulting in patient death. Cleanroom operators are the primary source of microbial contamination, where the surface of their specialist sterile clothing garments is subject to such contamination during wear. In turn these garments become a transmission vector for microorganisms within the cleanroom environment. Insight into identification of predominant bacterial isolates from garment surfaces would help to establish their original source and probable contamination route. This should assist possible intervention strategies to mitigate against this contamination. Aim The research aimed to determine identity of representative bacterial isolates recovered from the surface of cleanroom operators’ garments following wear within a cleanroom. Methods Following isolation and purification of bacterial isolates, 16S rRNA gene sequencing was used to establish species identity for isolates recovered from the surface of male and female operators’ garments following wear within the cleanroom environment. Results Of the 47 isolates recovered from the surface of garments, 16S rRNA gene sequencing successfully identified 94 % to genus level and 77 % to species level. Most were confirmed as Gram - positive bacteria; predominantly species of Staphylococcus, Micrococcus and Bacillus. The isolates recovered from the surface of female operatives’ garments were more diverse than those retrieved from male counterparts. Conclusion Most isolates recovered from garments were found to be skin commensals, with nearly 70% attributed to the operators within the environment. The remainder were credited to contamination of garments with species of environmental origin. Whilst most bacteria identified present minimal threat to healthy individuals, certain of these are opportunistic pathogens, presenting a hazard for immunocompromised and/or those with underlying health conditions.

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Section: Bacterial Recoverymentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Identification of Bacterial Isolates Recovered from the Surface of Cleanroom Operators’ Garments following Wear

Smith

Lowes

Driscoll

et al. 2022

EJPPS

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…The polyester fibres of reusable cleanroom garments provide a suitable substrate for microbial adherence and growth [15][16][17] , with skin commensal S. aureus viability maintained for up to 56 days following initial adherence [16] . Such bacteria from the skin microbiome penetrate through the cloth and contaminate the outer surface of cleanroom garments [6,18] . These clothing fibres in turn become vectors for microbial transmission [19] , compromising the sterile environment and potentially the product via airborne dissemination [20] or direct surface-to-surface transfer [7,21] .…”

Section: Bacterial Contamination Of Cleanroom Garmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Despite gloved hands reported as a transmission mode within the cleanroom environment [7,30] the efficacy of glove use with respect to the contamination of cleanroom garments during their donning has not previously been investigated. Those studies which have examined the contamination of cleanroom garments sought to do so either with respect to operator gender [18] or time spent working in the cleanroom facility [6] with no consideration of dressing regimes.…”

Section: Use Of Gloves To Prevent Microbial Contaminationmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The highest levels of growth were detected at the oral cavity region of hoods regardless of the variable no gloves, non-sterile gloves or sterile cleanroom gloves. High-levels of growth at the chest of suits and the oral cavity of hoods has previously been reported following their wear by operatives working within the cleanroom environment [18] and therefore it is important to consider that hand borne transfer during the donning process may have contributed to this.…”

Section: Comparison Of Bacterial Contamination Of Cleanroom Garments At Specific Sites Following Donningmentioning

confidence: 99%

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A Comparison of the Bacterial Contamination of the Surface of Cleanroom Operators’ Garments following Donning with and without Gloves

Smith

O’Driscoll

Lamb

2021

EJPPS

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Background Specialist cleanroom garments are a potential vector for transmission of microorganisms within these facilities. In order to maintain the low bioburden of such clothing it has been perceived best practice for operators to dress wearing sterile cleanroom gloves. However, the efficacy of such glove use upon the resultant bacterial contamination of the surface of cleanroom garments has not previously been evaluated. Aim To compare surface bacterial contamination of cleanroom garments following their donning by operators dressing with or without gloves. Methods Following prior handwashing and systematic donning of cleanroom clothing by operators dressing wearing either no gloves, non-sterile nitrile gloves or sterile cleanroom latex gloves, a direct agar contact method was immediately undertaken to test garment surfaces at 7 specific sites. Following incubation bacterial levels were suitably quantified. Findings Comparing levels of growth displayed on plates used to test the surface of cleanroom garments worn by operators dressing with no gloves, non–sterile gloves or sterile cleanroom gloves, no significant difference was observed between the percentage of contact plates displaying growth and the levels of growth observed on plates, from any of the sites tested. Conclusion Omission of gloves in line with a systematic handwashing procedure prior to the cleanroom garment donning process, may result in modest economic and environmental gain coupled with a slightly less burdensome procedure. However, this is reliant on rigorous adherence to handwashing protocol and assessment of associated risk factors.

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Microbiome of Clothing Items Worn for a Single Day in a Non-Healthcare Setting

Whitehead

Eppinger

Srinivasan

et al. 2023

Microbiology Research

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When worn, clothing acquires a microbiome of bacteria and fungi derived from the wearer’s skin and from the environment. The types of bacteria and fungi that may be recovered from clothing in healthcare settings have been well characterized, but less is known regarding the microbiome of clothing worn in non-healthcare settings and the possible roles that such clothing may play in microbial exchange. Culture-based methods and culture-independent genomic sequencing were used to enumerate and identify bacteria and fungi recovered from T-shirts, baby onesies, socks, and underwear worn for a single day after having been purchased new, washed, and dried. The highest bacterial loads were recovered from socks, underwear, and onesies (>106 colony-forming units [cfu]/sample) and the highest fungal loads were obtained from socks and underwear (>5 × 102 cfu/sample). The sequencing method identified opportunistic pathogens present in the samples, including members of genus Staphylococcus and Corynebacterium, as well as anaerobic members of the family Clostridiales. The opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida parapsilosis was identified in a high proportion of worn clothing samples. These results suggest that clothing may represent a pathogen reservoir and a vector for microbial exchange between household occupants or the community outside of the home.

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Gender Influences Bacterial Contamination of Reusable Cleanroom Operators’ Garments following Wear

Cited by 3 publications

References 38 publications

Identification of Bacterial Isolates Recovered from the Surface of Cleanroom Operators’ Garments following Wear

Identification of Bacterial Isolates Recovered from the Surface of Cleanroom Operators’ Garments following Wear

A Comparison of the Bacterial Contamination of the Surface of Cleanroom Operators’ Garments following Donning with and without Gloves

Microbiome of Clothing Items Worn for a Single Day in a Non-Healthcare Setting

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