High-touch surfaces: microbial neighbours at hand

Cobrado, Luís; Silva-Dias, Ana; Azevedo, Maria-Manuel; Rodrigues, Acácio G.

doi:10.1007/s10096-017-3042-4

Cited by 65 publications

(79 citation statements)

References 123 publications

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“…Strategies to ensure greater control of hospital-acquired infections are urgently needed. Microbe-contaminated dry surfaces in hospitals that are frequently touched by hands, termed 'high-touch' surfaces, such as handrails, doorknobs, lockers, and the table surfaces of inpatients, present a high risk in terms of the spread of nosocomial infections [1][2][3]. It is well recognized that improved hand hygiene and cleaning of surfaces are critically important in controlling hospital-acquired infections [4][5][6].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of thermal control of dry fomites on regulating the survival of human pathogenic bacteria responsible for nosocomial infections

et al. 2019

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We monitored the survival of human pathogenic bacteria [Escherichia coli (ATCC), extended-spectrum β-lactamase-producing E. coli (Clinical isolate), New Delhi metallo-β-lactamase-producing E. coli (clinical isolate), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC)] on dry materials (vinyl chloride, aluminum, plastic, stainless steel) at distinct temperatures (room temperature or 15°C–37°C). These bacteria favored a lower temperature for their prolonged survival on the dry fomites, regardless of the material type. Interestingly, when mixed with S. aureus, E. coli survived for a longer time at a lower temperature. Cardiolipin, which can promote the survival of S. aureus in harsh environments, had no effect on maintaining the survival of E. coli. Although the trends remained unchanged, adjusting the humidity from 40% to 60% affected the survival of bacteria on dry surfaces. Scanning electron microscopic analysis revealed no morphological differences in these bacteria immediately before or after one day of dry conditions. In addition, ATP assessment, a method used to visualize high-touch surfaces in hospitals, was not effective at monitoring bacterial dynamics. A specialized handrail device fitted with a heater, which was maintained at normal human body core temperature, successfully prohibited the prolonged survival of bacteria [Enterococcus faecalis (ATCC), E. coli (ATCC), Pseudomonas aeruginosa (ATCC), S. aureus (ATCC), Acinetobacter baumannii (clinical isolate), and Serratia marcescens (clinical isolate)], with the exception of spore-forming Bacillus subtilis (from our laboratory collection) and the yeast-like fungus Candida albicans (from our laboratory collection)] on dry surfaces. Taken together, we concluded that the tested bacteria favor lower temperatures for their survival in dry environments. Therefore, the thermal control of dry fomites has the potential to control bacterial survival on high-touch surfaces in hospitals.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of thermal control of dry fomites on regulating the survival of human pathogenic bacteria responsible for nosocomial infections

et al. 2019

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“…Frequently-touched environmental surfaces play an important role as reservoirs and sources of microorganism transmission 10 . Microbial pathogens are able to survive on the surfaces for long time, and could be transferred and cause HAI in patients admitted to hospitals 12 .…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…There is evidence that different polymers with speci c micro-and nano-topographies can inhibit the attachment, growth and spread of microorganisms [7][8][9] . Furthermore, different polymeric materials treated with silver, copper, polycations, triclosan, bacteriophages or light activated biotoxic radicals have been developed 10 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Antimicrobial Activity Testing Methods for Hydrophobic Patterned Surfaces

Perez-Gavilan

Castro²,

Arana

et al. 2020

Preprint

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Background: One strategy to decrease the incidence of hospital-acquired infections is to avoid the survival of pathogens in the environment by the development of surfaces with antimicrobial activity. To study the antimicrobial behaviour of active surfaces, different approaches have been developed of which ISO 22916 is the standard. Aim: To assess the performance of different testing methodologies to analyse the antimicrobial activity of hydrophobic surface patterned plastics as part of a Horizon 2020 European research project (FLEXPOL: Antimicrobial FLEXible POLymers for its use in hospital environments No. 721062).Methods: Four different testing methods were used to study the antimicrobial activity of a patterned film, including the ISO 22916 standard, the immersion method, the touch-transfer inoculation method, and the swab inoculation method, this latter developed specifically for this project.Findings: The non-realistic test conditions of the ISO 22916 standard showed this method to be non-appropriate in the study of hydrophobic antimicrobial patterned surfaces. The immersion method also showed no differences between patterned films and smooth controls due to the lack of attachment of testing bacteria on both surfaces. The antimicrobial activity of films could be demonstrated by the touch-transfer and the swab inoculation methods that more precisely mimicked the way of high-touch surfaces contamination. Conclusion: The touch-transfer and the swab inoculation methods proved to be the best methodologies to test the antimicrobial activity of patterned hydrophobic surfaces. In our opinion, a new ISO standard should be developed on the basis of these tests to study the antimicrobial behaviour of patterned surfaces.

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“…Wśród potencjalnych źródeł tego typu zakażeń (w tym zakażeń wirusowych) najczęściej wymienia się często dotykane powierzchnie środowiskowe (HTS -High Touch Surfaces, np. półki, meble, zasłony, pościel, ubrania, komputery, telefony) oraz wszystkie elementy sprzętu medycznego, z których transmisja patogenów może odbywać się poprzez bezpośredni kontakt pacjenta z powierzchnią lub pośrednio przez ręce lub rękawiczki ochronne personelu medycznego [9,20,50]. Dla przykładu wiele patogenów wirusowych jest zdolnych do przeżycia na rękach czy rękawiczkach od 2 minut do godziny [32], a po zasiedleniu danej powierzchni wirusy mogą pozostać w środo wisku przez długi okres czasu [42].…”

Section: Wprowadzenieunclassified

“…koronawirusy, rotawirusy oraz norowirusy. Badania wykazały, że norowirusy charakteryzują się zdolnością do zachowania wirulencji na powierzchniach przez długi okres czasu [1,9,51,52] i często są przenoszone z zanieczyszczonych powierzchni na opuszki palców, a następnie na kolejne powierzchnie takie jak pokrywy toalet, klamki, telefony [2]. Transmisja patogenów z zanieczyszczonych powierzchni jest uzależniona od czasu trwania i częstości kontaktu, zdolności patogenu do przeżycia na powierzchni i jego oporności na działanie dezynfektantów.…”

Section: Wprowadzenieunclassified

Antiviral Disinfection In The Medical Area

Trzcińska¹

2019

Postępy Mikrobiologii - Advancements of Microbiology

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Streszczenie: Zakażenia szpitalne (Hospital-Acquired Infections-HAI) stanowią poważny problem zdrowia publicznego. Problem ten dotyka setki milionów ludzi każdego roku i często prowadzi do wielu poważnych komplikacji zdrowotnych. Proces dezynfekcji, który jest podstawą zabiegów sanitarnych i higienicznych w placówkach medycznych, takich jak szpitale, przychodnie, gabinety stomatologiczne itp. jest ważnym elementem zapobiegania i zwalczania zakażeń wirusowych. Dezynfekcja jest złożonym procesem, na skuteczność którego ma wpływ wiele czynników. Środek dezynfekcyjny oprócz tego, że wymaga odpowiedniego stosowania, musi również spełniać pewne kryteria, w tym szeroki zakres aktywności biobójczej potwierdzony przez dobrze znane i dobrze zaprojektowane metody badawcze. 1. Wprowadzenie. 2. Dezynfekcja. 3. Skuteczność procesu dezynfekcji. 4. Wymagania stawiane środkom dezynfekcyjnym. 5. Badanie aktywności wirusobójczej środków dezynfekcyjnych. 6. Dezynfekcja przeciwwirusowa-aspekty praktyczne ANTIVIRAL DISINFECTION IN THE MEDICAL AREA

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High-touch surfaces: microbial neighbours at hand

Cited by 65 publications

References 123 publications

Effect of thermal control of dry fomites on regulating the survival of human pathogenic bacteria responsible for nosocomial infections

Effect of thermal control of dry fomites on regulating the survival of human pathogenic bacteria responsible for nosocomial infections

Antimicrobial Activity Testing Methods for Hydrophobic Patterned Surfaces

Antiviral Disinfection In The Medical Area

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