Operating Room Telephone Microbial Flora

Abstract

There are approximately 500,000 surgical site infections per year in the United states. The purpose of this study was to determine if the bacteria most frequently involved in Surgical Site Infections (SSI) could be found on telephones in the Operating Room (OR). A total of 26 cultures were taken from telephones within 14 operating rooms and two sub-sterile rooms at a large teaching medical center. Bacteria were identified using standard laboratory procedures. The following bacteria were identified: Acinetobacter calcoaceticus-baumannii complex 1.9%, Pseudomonas aeruginosa 1.9%, Agrobacterium radiobacter/tumefaciens 1.9%, Coagulase-negative Staphylococcus 82.7%, Micrococcus 3.8% and Streptococcus non-group D 5.8%. OR telephones can serve as reservoirs for SSI causing bacteria.

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Document Details

Document Type
Technical Report
Publication Date
Jun 02, 2005
Accession Number
ADA434435

Entities

People

  • A. Bivens
  • A. Shinn
  • C. E. Kasper
  • J. Bruton
  • Jared Nelson
  • K. Mcilwain
  • L. Wanzer
  • S. Bibb

Organizations

  • Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences

Tags

DTIC Thesaurus Topics

  • Anti-Bacterial Agents
  • Bacteria
  • Biodegradation
  • Environmental Protection
  • Gram-Negative Bacteria
  • Health
  • Health Care
  • Health Services
  • Infection
  • Laboratory Procedures
  • Literature Surveys
  • Medical Personnel
  • Microbial Genetics
  • Microbiology
  • Microbiomes
  • Test Methods
  • United States

Fields of Study

  • Environmental science

Readers

  • Aerospace Test and Evaluation
  • Microbial Pathology

Technology Areas

  • Biotechnology