According
to a recent publication in PLoS ONE from a Taiwan based study, paper medical
charts by carrying pathogenic microorganisms, are the important sources of
potential infections. This prospective study had included 681 hospital wards,
including medical, surgical, pediatric and obstetric-gynecologic wards along
with corresponding special units such as ICUs. The external surfaces of the
medical charts were sampled using sterile cotton swabs moistened with normal
saline.
The
incidence of the medical chart contamination was about 64% from general wards and 83% from special units. Yes, you read it right, compared to the general wards, the
contamination was higher in the special units, with the exception of
obstetric-gynecologic charts.
The
most common bacteria contaminating the charts in both the general wards and
special units were coagulase-negative Staphylococci. However, Staphylococcus
aureus constituted about 18% of contamination in special units, followed by
E.coli, Streptococcus viridians, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA), Klebsiella pneumoniae and Acinetobacter baumannii.
Statistical analysis showed that the occurrence of medical chart contamination
was about 2 to 4 fold higher in the special units than in the general wards.
The
findings of this study emphasizes the importance of effective infection control
measures and hygienic practices like hand washing before and after handling of
medical charts, examining patients.
For
further reading:
Chen K-H, Chen L-R, Wang Y-K (2014) Contamination of Medical Charts: An
Important Source of Potential Infection in Hospitals. PLoS ONE 9(2): e78512.
doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0078512
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