Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-fqc5m Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T01:58:28.267Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

A laboratory model for the investigation of contact transfer of micro-organisms

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 May 2009

R. R. Marples
Affiliation:
Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT, England
A. G. Towers
Affiliation:
Central Public Health Laboratory, Colindale Avenue, London NW9 5HT, England
Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Summary

Core share and HTML view are not available for this content. However, as you have access to this content, a full PDF is available via the ‘Save PDF’ action button.

The model was based on grasping a fabric-covered bottle contaminated with a strain of Staphylococcus saprophyticus, then grasping a sterile fabric-covered bottle and counting the organisms transferred. When the donor fabric was moist 10% of the available cells passed onto the hands, but this fell to 0·05% when the inoculum dried. Transfer from wet hands to the fabric amounted to 85%, but in the complete model only 0·06% of the available cells were transferred. The model was used to assess simple methods of degerming the hands. Washing the hands reduced transfer by 95%, while washing in 70% alcohol reduced transfer by 99·99%. Lesser procedures investigated included applying 0·2 ml of 80% ethanol to the hands, which reduced transfer by 93%.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 1979

References

REFERENCES

Hambraeus, A. (1973). Transfer of Staphylococcus aureus via nurses' uniforms. Journal of Hygiene 71, 799.Google ScholarPubMed
Lidwell, O. M., Towers, A. G., Ballard, J. & Gladstone, B. (1974). Transfer of micro-organisms between nurses and patients in a clean air environment. Journal of Applied Bacteriology 37, 649.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lowbury, E. J. L. & Lilly, H. A. (1973). Use of 4% chlorhexidine detergent solution (Hibiscrub) and other methods of skin disinfection. British Medical Journal i, 510.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ojajärvi, J., Mäkelä, P. & Rantsalo, I. (1977). Failure of hand disinfection with frequent hand washing: a need for prolonged field studies. Journal of Hygiene 79, 107.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Petersen, N. J., Collins, D. E. & Marshall, J. H. (1973). A microbiological assay technique for hands. Health Laboratory Science 10, 18.Google ScholarPubMed
Price, P. B. (1938). The bacteriology of normal skin; a new quantitative test applied to a study of the bacterial flora and the disinfectant action of mechanical cleaning. Journal of Infectious Diseases 63, 301.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Rebell, G., Pillsbury, D. M., de St Phalle, M. & Ginsberg, D. (1950). Factors affecting the rapid disappearance of bacteria placed on the normal skin. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 14, 247.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Rotter, M., Koller, W. & Kundi, M. (1977). Usability of three alcohols for a standard disinfection method to be employed for the evaluation of procedures for the hygienic disinfection of hands. Zentralblatt für Bakteriologie, Parasitenkunde, Infektionskrankheiten und Hygiene (Abt. 1, Orig. B) 164, 428.Google ScholarPubMed
Speers, R., Shooter, R. A., Gaya, H., Patel, N. & Hewitt, J. H. (1969). Contamination of nurses' uniforms with Staphylococcus aureus. Lancet ii, 233.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stringer, M. F. & Marples, R. R. (1976). Ultrasonic methods for sampling human skin micro-organisms. British Journal of Dermatology 94, 551.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Williamson, P. & Kligman, A. M. (1965). A new method for the quantitative investigation of cutaneous bacteria. Journal of Investigative Dermatology 45, 498.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed