Occupational risk of exposure to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and the quality of infection hygiene in nursing homes

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  • Pil Uthaug Rasmussen
  • Katrine Uhrbrand
  • Bartels, Mette Damkjær
  • Helle Neustrup
  • Dorina Gabriela Karottki
  • Ute Bültmann
  • Anne Mette Madsen

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is an increasing health concern across the globe and is often prevalent at long-term care facilities, such as nursing homes. However, we know little of whether nursing home staff is exposed to MRSA via air and surfaces. We investigated whether staff members at nursing homes are colonised with and exposed to culturable MRSA, and assessed staff members’ self-reported knowledge of MRSA and compliance with infection hygiene guidelines. Five nursing homes with MRSA positive residents were visited in Copenhagen, Denmark. Personal bioaerosol exposure samples and environmental samples from surfaces, sedimented dust and bioaerosols were examined for MRSA and methicillin-susceptible S. aureus (MSSA) to determine occupational exposure. Swabs were taken from staffs’ nose, throat, and hands to determine whether they were colonised with MRSA. An online questionnaire about MRSA and infection control was distributed. No staff members were colonised with MRSA, but MRSA was detected in the rooms of the colonised residents in two out of the five nursing homes. MRSA was observed in air (n =4 out of 42, ranging from 2.9–7.9 CFU/m3), sedimented dust (n = 1 out of 58, 1.1 × 103 CFU/m2/d), and on surfaces (n = 9 out of 113, 0.04–70.8 CFU/m2). The questionnaire revealed that half of the staff members worry about spreading MRSA to others. Identified aspects for improvement were improved availability and use of protective equipment, not transferring cleaning supplies (e.g., vacuum cleaners) between residents’ rooms and to reduce worry of MRSA, e.g., through education. [Figure not available: see fulltext.]

OriginalsprogEngelsk
Artikelnummer41
TidsskriftFrontiers of Environmental Science and Engineering
Vol/bind15
Udgave nummer3
Antal sider11
ISSN2095-2201
DOI
StatusUdgivet - 2021

Bibliografisk note

Funding Information:
We would like to thank all the participants in the study. We would also like to thank Prof. Dr. Monika Raulf for EDC supply. We acknowledge Margit W. Frederiksen, the National Research Institute of the Working Environment, Denmark, for excellent technical assistance. This work was supported by grant 16-B-0239 from Helsefonden and by the Danish Government through a grant to the FOR-SOSU program (SATS 2004) at the National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Denmark.

Publisher Copyright:
© 2020, The Author(s).

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