Predictors of growth of Escherichia coli on lab coats as part of hospital‐acquired infection transmission through healthcare personnel attire

Abstract

Background: Healthcare personnel (HCP) attire could be potential vehicles for microbial transmission.This study aimed to explore the extent of bacterial contamination and hygiene and handling practices of healthcare personnel attire that could in uence bacterial growth.Methods: Descriptive, cross-sectional study was used in this study. Convenience sampling of the 188 healthcare personnel was recruited from a main holistic hospital in the northern part of Jordan. Three swab samples were collected from three different parts of lab coats used by each participant. ANOVA test and the generalized mixed linear model were used for the categorical variables of three or more levels and identify the predictors of positive growth of Escherichia Coli on healthcare personnel attire.Results: Enterococcus faecalis was the most common species of bacteria found on lab coat. Despite of no statistically signi cant differences were found, the HCP attire coming from the critical care units and the emergency department were highlighted with slightly higher contamination compared to other departments. Escherichia coli 's near-signi cant growth differences (p=0.057) were found based on different locations on lab coats compared to other types of bacteria. Factors associated with signi cant growth of Escherichia coli on healthcare personnel attire were age ≥36 years, a high income, bachelor marital status, working as a physician, lab coat use preferred over scrubs, and borrowing of lab coats.Conclusion: Healthcare personnel should be cautious about the method of use and storage of lab coats they wear.Recent evidence indicate that healthcare personnel's hands are the main vehicle and source of crosscontamination to patients. 5,10 However, the transmission of microbes from healthcare personnel and clinical devices to patients has also been reported. 11,12 These infections could be transmitted to hospitalized patients through textiles, such as lab coats, and mobile and medical devices used by healthcare personnel. Evidence supporting this hypothesis has never been reported in Jordan.White coats have a long traditional history of being a symbol of hope, healing, and identi cation for medical professionals. However, there has been a concern that white coats may play a potential role in the transmission of pathogenic microorganisms within and outside hospital settings. 13,14 The material used in lab coats plays a salient role in microbial adhesion, in which fabric blended with cotton is more likely to catch microbes more than fabric made completely from polyester. 15 Healthcare personnel, such as nurses and doctors, who wear white coats over their uniforms are at a higher risk for transmitting microbes through lab coats to their patients.After admission to a hospital, a condition known as dysbiosis, which is the loss of "health-promoting" bacteria in human body, makes the body vulnerable to any pathogens in the hospital environment, especially to nosocomial infections. 16 The most common among dangerous bacteria that are transmitted and cause s...