SHEA study says that hospital floors may provide a path of pathogen transmission, warrants further research

According to a recent study, floors in health care facilities may be an underappreciated source of pathogen spread.

Authors of the study, “Timing and Route of Contamination of Patient Rooms with Healthcare Associated Pathogens,” suggest that the floors of hospital rooms are quickly and frequently contaminated with antibiotic-resistant bacteria within hours of patient admission, creating a route of transfer of potentially dangerous organisms to patients. The study was published by Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology.

Researchers with the Northeast Ohio VA Healthcare System closely tracked contamination in hospital rooms of 17 newly admitted patients to identify the timing and route of transfer of bacteria within patients’ rooms. Before testing, rooms were thoroughly cleaned and sanitized, and all patients screened negative for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other health care-associated bacteria.

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