Bacteria Associated with Healthcare-Associated Infections on Environmental Samples Obtained from Two Fire Departments

(1) Background: Firefighters spend about 64% of their time responding to medical emergencies and providing medical care without a patient history, which can render them vulnerable to healthcare-associated infections (HAI). Infection prevention, control, and surveillance systems have been instituted...

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Autores principales:	Kelli L. Barr, Rodney X. Sturdivant, Denise N. Williams, Debra Harris
Formato:	article
Lenguaje:	EN
Publicado:	MDPI AG 2021
Materias:	healthcare-associated infections firefighter surface contamination Medicine R
Acceso en línea:	https://doaj.org/article/d8a7b58106814a29aea2758070f8d9d0
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spelling	oai:doaj.org-article:d8a7b58106814a29aea2758070f8d9d02021-11-25T17:49:11ZBacteria Associated with Healthcare-Associated Infections on Environmental Samples Obtained from Two Fire Departments10.3390/ijerph1822118851660-46011661-7827https://doaj.org/article/d8a7b58106814a29aea2758070f8d9d02021-11-01T00:00:00Zhttps://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/18/22/11885https://doaj.org/toc/1661-7827https://doaj.org/toc/1660-4601(1) Background: Firefighters spend about 64% of their time responding to medical emergencies and providing medical care without a patient history, which can render them vulnerable to healthcare-associated infections (HAI). Infection prevention, control, and surveillance systems have been instituted at hospitals. However, the prevalence of firefighters’ exposure to HAI is unknown. The objective of this study was to document evidence of HAI on surfaces in fire stations and engines to inform disinfection procedures and identify which pathogens might contribute to occupational exposures. (2) Methods: High-touch or high-use surfaces of two fire departments were sampled during five separate occasions. One fire station from one fire department was sampled over a 4-week period, whereas four fire stations were sampled from a different fire department only once. Sampled surfaces included: entryway floor, washing machine, medical bag, back seat of engine, keyboard of reporting computer, engine console, and uniform pants. (3) Results: Multiple statistical models determined that bacterial contamination was similar between the two fire departments and their stations. Keyboards were the most contaminated surface for all fire stations and departments, <i>E. coli</i> was the most common bacteria detected, and <i>C. difficile</i> was the least detected bacteria. Adjustments for rates of contamination found that contamination rates varied between fire stations. (4) Conclusions: Comprehensive environmental sampling and clinical studies are needed to better understand occupational exposures of firefighters to HAI.Kelli L. BarrRodney X. SturdivantDenise N. WilliamsDebra HarrisMDPI AGarticlehealthcare-associated infectionsfirefightersurface contaminationMedicineRENInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol 18, Iss 11885, p 11885 (2021)
institution	DOAJ
collection	DOAJ
language	EN
topic	healthcare-associated infections firefighter surface contamination Medicine R
spellingShingle	healthcare-associated infections firefighter surface contamination Medicine R Kelli L. Barr Rodney X. Sturdivant Denise N. Williams Debra Harris Bacteria Associated with Healthcare-Associated Infections on Environmental Samples Obtained from Two Fire Departments
description	(1) Background: Firefighters spend about 64% of their time responding to medical emergencies and providing medical care without a patient history, which can render them vulnerable to healthcare-associated infections (HAI). Infection prevention, control, and surveillance systems have been instituted at hospitals. However, the prevalence of firefighters’ exposure to HAI is unknown. The objective of this study was to document evidence of HAI on surfaces in fire stations and engines to inform disinfection procedures and identify which pathogens might contribute to occupational exposures. (2) Methods: High-touch or high-use surfaces of two fire departments were sampled during five separate occasions. One fire station from one fire department was sampled over a 4-week period, whereas four fire stations were sampled from a different fire department only once. Sampled surfaces included: entryway floor, washing machine, medical bag, back seat of engine, keyboard of reporting computer, engine console, and uniform pants. (3) Results: Multiple statistical models determined that bacterial contamination was similar between the two fire departments and their stations. Keyboards were the most contaminated surface for all fire stations and departments, <i>E. coli</i> was the most common bacteria detected, and <i>C. difficile</i> was the least detected bacteria. Adjustments for rates of contamination found that contamination rates varied between fire stations. (4) Conclusions: Comprehensive environmental sampling and clinical studies are needed to better understand occupational exposures of firefighters to HAI.
format	article
author	Kelli L. Barr Rodney X. Sturdivant Denise N. Williams Debra Harris
author_facet	Kelli L. Barr Rodney X. Sturdivant Denise N. Williams Debra Harris
author_sort	Kelli L. Barr
title	Bacteria Associated with Healthcare-Associated Infections on Environmental Samples Obtained from Two Fire Departments
title_short	Bacteria Associated with Healthcare-Associated Infections on Environmental Samples Obtained from Two Fire Departments
title_full	Bacteria Associated with Healthcare-Associated Infections on Environmental Samples Obtained from Two Fire Departments
title_fullStr	Bacteria Associated with Healthcare-Associated Infections on Environmental Samples Obtained from Two Fire Departments
title_full_unstemmed	Bacteria Associated with Healthcare-Associated Infections on Environmental Samples Obtained from Two Fire Departments
title_sort	bacteria associated with healthcare-associated infections on environmental samples obtained from two fire departments
publisher	MDPI AG
publishDate	2021
url	https://doaj.org/article/d8a7b58106814a29aea2758070f8d9d0
work_keys_str_mv	AT kellilbarr bacteriaassociatedwithhealthcareassociatedinfectionsonenvironmentalsamplesobtainedfromtwofiredepartments AT rodneyxsturdivant bacteriaassociatedwithhealthcareassociatedinfectionsonenvironmentalsamplesobtainedfromtwofiredepartments AT denisenwilliams bacteriaassociatedwithhealthcareassociatedinfectionsonenvironmentalsamplesobtainedfromtwofiredepartments AT debraharris bacteriaassociatedwithhealthcareassociatedinfectionsonenvironmentalsamplesobtainedfromtwofiredepartments
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Bacteria Associated with Healthcare-Associated Infections on Environmental Samples Obtained from Two Fire Departments

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