Contaminated Gloves Increase Risks of Cross-Transmission of Pathogens

Research being presented at the ASM Microbe research meeting provides clear evidence that the gloves of healthcare workers contaminate hospital surfaces with bacteria. The researchers' data also suggest that types of bacteria may affect cross-transmission rates among contaminated gloves and the hospital surfaces.

"Infection control is a priority for all hospitals to reduce the spread of HCAIs," said study author Sae Otani, a master course student at Bunkyo Gakuin University, "Gloving is recommended as a barrier protection for healthcare workers to reduce the risk of contamination during contact with infectious sputum, urine and body fluids," she said. However, failure to change or remove contaminated gloves carries a high-risk of healthcare-associated pathogens transmission.

The researchers, led by Sae Otani, and Kazue Fujita, Nippon Medical School used common healthcare-associated pathogens in this study. Nitrile examination gloves were inoculated with the specific microorganism. After inoculation of bacteria, contaminated gloves were touched to a sterilized polypropylene surface. Then, the number of viable bacteria on the polypropylene surface was quantified

Acinetobacter baumannii remained on the polypropylene surface. In contrast, Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumoniae and Pseudomonas aeruginosa were not detected on the polypropylene surface. Antibiotic sensitivity of bacteria had no consistent effect on survival on the polypropylene surface.

"This study shows that contaminated gloves increase risks of cross-transmission of healthcare-associated pathogens among healthcare workers and in the environment," said Otani. In addition, the data also suggest that types of bacteria may affect cross-transmission rates among contaminated gloves and the hospital surfaces. A. baumannii are higher risk of transmission from the gloves to hospital surfaces than E. coli, K. pneumoniae and P. aeruginosa in this study. HCAIs caused by gram-negative organisms such as Acinetobacter spp., P. aeruginosa and Enterobacteriaceae are a major concern.

"Proper glove use may decrease the risk of healthcare-associated infections and gloves should be carefully used and removed after use depending on the types of bacteria," said Otani.

Sae Otani, Bunkyo Gakuin University, Kazue Fujita, Nippon Medical School and colleagues presented their results in the slide session at ASM Microbe 2016 Boston on June 19, 2016.

Source: American Society for Microbiology