Contaminação por Staphylococcus aureus resistente a meticilina dos uniformes utilizados por técnicos de um hospital veterinário escola / Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcal Contamination of Clothing Worn by Personnel in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital

Original Article: Research

Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcal Contamination of Clothing Worn by Personnel in a Veterinary Teaching Hospital

1. Ameet Singh DVM, DVSc, Diplomate ACVS^1,*, 
2. Meagan Walker¹, 
3. Joyce Rousseau BSc², 
4. Gabrielle J. Monteith BSc¹, 
5. Jeffrey Scott Weese DVM, DVSc, Diplomate ACVIM²

Article first published online: 10 MAY 2013

DOI: 10.1111/j.1532-950X.2013.12024.x

© Copyright 2013 by The American College of Veterinary Surgeons

Issue

Veterinary Surgery

Early View (Online Version of Record published before inclusion in an issue)

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Abstract

Objective

To determine the methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus pseudintermedius (MRSP) contamination rate of white coats (WC) and surgical scrubs (SS) worn by personnel at the Ontario Veterinary College Health Sciences Centre (OVCHSC) and to identify risk factors associated with clothing contamination.

Study Design

Cross-sectional study.

Sample Population

Personnel including clinical faculty, house officers, technicians, and veterinary students working at the OVCHSC.

Methods

Electrostatic cloths were used to sample WC and SS of hospital personnel. Samples were tested for MRSA and MRSP and isolates were typed. Participants completed a self-administered questionnaire and data was evaluated for risk factors.

Results

Of 114 specimens, MRS were isolated from 20 (17.5%), MRSA from 4 (3.5%), and MRSP from 16 (14.0%). Technicians were 9.5× (OR = 0.95, 95% CI: 1.2–∞, P = .03) more likely than students to have clothing contaminated with MRSA. No risk factors were identified for MRSP or for overall MRS contamination.

Conclusions

Standard hospital clothing was found to have a high prevalence of MRS contamination in a veterinary teaching hospital and could be a source of hospital-acquired infections.