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Transfer of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus by fist bump versus elbow bump

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 October 2021

Heba Alhmidi ,
Jennifer L. Cadnum ,
Brigid M. Wilson  and
Curtis J. Donskey
Heba Alhmidi
Affiliation:
Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Jennifer L. Cadnum
Affiliation:
Research Service, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Brigid M. Wilson
Affiliation:
Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio
Curtis J. Donskey*
Affiliation:
Geriatric Research, Education, and Clinical Center, Louis Stokes Cleveland VA Medical Center, Cleveland, Ohio Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, Ohio
*
Author for correspondence: Curtis J. Donskey, E-mail: Curtis.Donskey@va.gov
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Abstract

For 40 patients with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) colonization, fist bump and elbow bump greetings resulted in frequent transfer of MRSA (25% vs 15%, respectively), but significantly fewer colonies were transferred via the elbow bump. Noncontact greetings should be encouraged to reduce the risk of transfer of healthcare-associated pathogens.

Type
Concise Communication
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 44 , Issue 2 , February 2023 , pp. 319 - 321
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2021. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America

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