Bacterial Contamination of Hospital Bed-Control Handsets in a Surgical Setting: A Potential Marker of Contamination of the Healthcare Environment

摘要

INTRODUCTIONPatients undergoing colorectal surgical resections have a high incidence of surgical site infection (SSI). Many patient-specific risk factors have been recognised in association with SSI in such patients, but environmental contamination is increasingly recognised as a contributor to hospital-acquired infection (HAI). This study set out to describe the bacterial contamination of the patient environment, using hospital bed-control handsets, as they are frequently handled by both staff and patients and represent a marker of environmental contamination.