2017, Number 4
Surface and environmental cultures: an early detection strategy for nosocomial infections
Zúñiga CIR, Caro LJ
Full text
Language: Spanish
References: 4
Page: 147-150
PDF size: 188.41 Kb.
ABSTRACT
Any surface of the hospital environment is likely to be colonized by microorganisms, including pathogens; thus, they can be transmitted in a cross-way through the hands of the health personnel to other surfaces, both animate and inanimate. Nosocomial infectious outbreaks can occur if the source is not removed; they can occur through solutions, liquids or medicines contaminated by microorganisms adapted to the survival in those milieus. The hospital environment contains numerous microorganisms, but only in some cases a cause and effect relationship between the presence of microorganisms in this milieu and the development of infection in humans has been clearly demonstrated. The routine practice of surface cultures allows us to evaluate the hospital environment to take actions such as high level disinfection, rotation of antiseptics, and elimination of fomites or inputs contaminated by pathogens in order to avoid nosocomial infections.REFERENCES
Sehulster L, Chinn R, Arduino M, Carpenter J, Donlan R, Ashford D et al. Guidelines for environmental infection control in health-care facilities. Recommendations from CDC and the Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee (HICPAC). Chicago IL; American Society for Healthcare Engineering/American Hospital Association; 2003. pp. 88-89.