TY - JOUR
T1 - Floor and environmental contamination during glove disposal
AU - Munoz-Gutierrez, K. M.
AU - Canales, R. A.
AU - Reynolds, K. A.
AU - Verhougstraete, M. P.
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2018 The Healthcare Infection Society
PY - 2019/3
Y1 - 2019/3
N2 - Background: Evidence suggests that doffing and possibly disposal of used personal protective equipment (PPE) can lead to environmental contamination. Aim: To ascertain the potential for site and floor contamination when medical gloves are inappropriately disposed. Methods: Fifteen healthcare workers (HCWs) disposed of gloves inoculated with bacteriophage and a chemical dye into a wastebasket, located 1.22 m away. Following each trial, designated sample areas were visually inspected with a blacklight for fluorescent dye stains and swabbed with a 3M Letheen Broth sponge to quantify the bacteriophage. Findings: The area closest to the participant (<0.30 m) had the highest bacteriophage concentrations (geomean: 6.9 × 10 3 pfu/100 cm 2 ; range: 8.07 to 3.93 × 10 7 pfu/100 cm 2 ). Bacteriophage concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in areas ≤0.61 m compared to >0.61 m from the HCWs. Although the farthest distances (1.22–1.52 m) resulted in 14% bacteriophage- and 4% fluorescent dye-positive occurrences, there was no significant difference (P = 0.069) between the tracers. The bacteriophage and chemical dye indicate highest environmental contamination nearest the HCWs and both tracers could be appropriate for PPE disposal training. Conclusion: HCWs use gloves every workday and potentially could contaminate surrounding surfaces and floors, during improper disposal practices. Therefore, proper disposal techniques are required to minimize pathogen transmission by establishing industry-wide policies, adequate training, and education to HCWs.
AB - Background: Evidence suggests that doffing and possibly disposal of used personal protective equipment (PPE) can lead to environmental contamination. Aim: To ascertain the potential for site and floor contamination when medical gloves are inappropriately disposed. Methods: Fifteen healthcare workers (HCWs) disposed of gloves inoculated with bacteriophage and a chemical dye into a wastebasket, located 1.22 m away. Following each trial, designated sample areas were visually inspected with a blacklight for fluorescent dye stains and swabbed with a 3M Letheen Broth sponge to quantify the bacteriophage. Findings: The area closest to the participant (<0.30 m) had the highest bacteriophage concentrations (geomean: 6.9 × 10 3 pfu/100 cm 2 ; range: 8.07 to 3.93 × 10 7 pfu/100 cm 2 ). Bacteriophage concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in areas ≤0.61 m compared to >0.61 m from the HCWs. Although the farthest distances (1.22–1.52 m) resulted in 14% bacteriophage- and 4% fluorescent dye-positive occurrences, there was no significant difference (P = 0.069) between the tracers. The bacteriophage and chemical dye indicate highest environmental contamination nearest the HCWs and both tracers could be appropriate for PPE disposal training. Conclusion: HCWs use gloves every workday and potentially could contaminate surrounding surfaces and floors, during improper disposal practices. Therefore, proper disposal techniques are required to minimize pathogen transmission by establishing industry-wide policies, adequate training, and education to HCWs.
KW - Biological tracers
KW - Environmental contamination
KW - Floor contamination
KW - Glove disposal
KW - Hospital
KW - Personal protective equipment
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U2 - 10.1016/j.jhin.2018.10.015
DO - 10.1016/j.jhin.2018.10.015
M3 - Article
C2 - 30359647
AN - SCOPUS:85056351090
SN - 0195-6701
VL - 101
SP - 347
EP - 353
JO - Journal of Hospital Infection
JF - Journal of Hospital Infection
IS - 3
ER -