Neck ties as vectors for nosocomial infection

Dixon, Mairead

doi:10.1007/s001340050056

Cited by 33 publications

(16 citation statements)

References 4 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Unclassified

Order By: Relevance

“…In a cross-sectional survey, growth of coagulase-negative Staphylococcus was reported from all 5 neckties of doctors in the intensive care unit. 14 Heavy growth was found for 2 of the neckties. S. citreus was identified on 3 ties (heavy growth on 1), and "Bacillus species" was identified on 1 tie.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Health care professionals' neckties as a source of transmission of bacteria to patients: a systematic review

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Background: There is growing concern that neckties worn by health care professionals may contribute to infections contracted in health care settings. We evaluated the evidence for health-care-associated infections resulting from neckties and whether the evidence is sufficient to warrant a tieless policy in Canada. Methods:We performed a systematic review to determine whether neckties worn by health care professionals colonize harmful pathogenic bacteria and whether they contribute to the spread of infection to patients in the inpatient or outpatient setting. We searched PubMed (1966PubMed ( to 2017 and Embase (1974Embase ( to 2017. The level of evidence was appraised according to the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine levels of evidence. We evaluated the quality of evidence and the risk of bias using the Jadad scale or the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Results:We screened 1675 citations, of which 6 were ultimately included in the systematic review. Only 1 study gave level 1b evidence (randomized controlled trial). Neckties were more likely than shirt pockets to colonize bacteria. There is limited evidence that neckties may be contaminated with pathogenic bacteria (e.g., methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and very limited evidence that contaminated neckties may transmit bacteria (in a controlled experimental setting to a mannequin). Interpretation:There is no evidence of increased rates of health-care-associated infections related to the wearing of neckties by health care professionals. There is weak evidence that neckties are contaminated with pathogenic (and nonpathogenic) bacteria. The level of evidence was weak and the studies were heterogeneous. Evidence to support the need for a tieless dress code policy is lacking. Abstract Research OPENResearch CMAJ OPEN, 6(1) E27and whether this contributes to the spread of infection to their patients in the inpatient or outpatient setting. Methods Search strategyWe performed a systematic review according to the PRISMA guidelines. 5 We searched PubMed (1966 to Nov. 7, 2017 and Embase (1974 to Nov. 7, 2017 using an a priori determined search strategy. We consulted a senior librarian from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of British Columbia medical library to assist with the literature searches.The literature search identified a main database of articles using the following search strategy: ("infection" [MESH] OR "communicable diseases" [MESH] OR infect* OR communicable*) AND ("health personnel" [MESH] OR "physicians" [MESH] OR physician* OR doctors OR doctor) AND ("clothing" [MESH] OR "attire"[All Fields] OR necktie*) (Appendix 1, available at www.cmajopen.ca/content/6/1/ E26/suppl/DC1). We included papers that were primary studies that examined neckties; editorials and letters were excluded, although we reviewed any references. The search was limited to articles in humans and those published in English. Articles examining potential vectors such as identification badges, stethoscopes and bow ties were excluded unless the comparison was against neck...

show abstract

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 98%

Health care professionals' neckties as a source of transmission of bacteria to patients: a systematic review

et al. 2018

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…[52][53][54][55][56] Although well known to surgeons since first learning how to complete a surgical hand washing while in medical school, artificial or long nails may also contribute as a fomite in transmission, although a recent Cochrane review found no link between nail polish and wedding bands. 57,58…”

Section: Screening and Transmission: Summary Of Current Evidence Univmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comprehensive Review of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

O’Reilly

Johnson

Rohrich

2014

Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

No Level I or II evidence was found regarding physician screening, treatment, or transmission. Current expert opinion, however, indicates that plastic surgeons and their staff should be vigilant for methicillin-resistant S. aureus transmission, and once a sentinel cluster of skin and soft-tissue infections is identified, systematic screening and decontamination should be considered. If positive, topical decolonization therapy should be offered. In refractory cases, oral antibiotic therapy may be required, but this should not be used as a first-line strategy.

show abstract

“…In numerous studies, clothes have been found to be infected with chemicals and biotic factors [3]. Used clothes have been shown to aid in the transmission of pathogens from one individual to another, sickness the person that wear the cloth had before (his or her) death could most likely be transmitted to the consumer, especially if it is a disease that can be transmitted to the new consumer through body fluids like sweat.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…In a research carried out by Nelly the records referred that Enterococci and Staphylococci can survive for extended periods of time on materials commonly wear by patients and health care workers and on various other fabrics in the hospital environment [5] while another study refers that neckties worn by doctors at an intensive care unit produced heavy growths of coagulase negative Staphylococcus on 2/5 ties tested [3]. Studies have revealed that a variety of objects, such as tools, toys, and clothes, can serve as vehicles for the transmission of Shigella sp.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

A Microbial Survey of Second Hand Clothe Samples Collected from Baghdad Market

Al-Easawi¹,

Emran²

2017

JNUS

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Second hand represent one of the sources of illness due to environmentally related disease and injury. Used clothes are sold all over the country since they are very cheap compared with the new ones. The current study included collecting samples from different used clothing markets in Baghdad and comparing the efficiency of detergents used to reduce microbial load in the garments. The samples were adult's clothes, babies' clothes, and fabric toys. Isolation and identification of bacteria with CFU were done to determine which cloth samples carry the highest bacterial contamination and dominant pathogenic microbes associated with skin infection. Culture and biochemical methods were used for the identification. Samples were washed using two types of detergents (soap, granulated detergent) to investigate the efficiency of these detergents in reducing bacterial contamination in such clothes. The results showed that the dominant isolate bacteria in adult clothes were Staphylococcus sp. and Enterobacteriace sp. while Enterobacteriace sp., Bacillus sp. in baby clothes and Bacillus sp. in fabric toys. The results of CFU found to be the highest in baby's clothes (4x10 6 ), fabric toys (2.2x10 4 ), adult clothes (20x10 2 )respectively. Results showed that the isolated fungi were Aspergilus flavus, Aspergilus niger, Rhizopus. After washing with detergents including soap and granulated detergent, the results showed that the granulated detergent is more effective in reducing bacterial and fungal contamination than soap in all samples. This study concluded that babies' cloths are vulnmrable to contaminating with bacteria and fungi then fabric toys followed by adult clothes. It's recommended to wash second hand clothes using other methods to remove both bacterial and fungal contamination such as disinfectants then ironing.

show abstract

Neck ties as vectors for nosocomial infection

Cited by 33 publications

References 4 publications

Health care professionals' neckties as a source of transmission of bacteria to patients: a systematic review

Health care professionals' neckties as a source of transmission of bacteria to patients: a systematic review

Comprehensive Review of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus

A Microbial Survey of Second Hand Clothe Samples Collected from Baghdad Market

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About