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Microbial Flora on the Hands of Health Care Personnel: Differences in Composition and Antibacterial Resistance

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  21 June 2016

William A. Horn ,
Elaine L. Larson ,
Kenneth J. McGinley  and
James J. Leyden
William A. Horn
Affiliation:
Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Elaine L. Larson
Affiliation:
Department of Dermatology, and Johns Hopkins University School of Nursing, Baltimore, Maryland
Kenneth J. McGinley
Affiliation:
Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
James J. Leyden*
Affiliation:
Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
*
Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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Abstract

The composition and antibiotic sensitivity pattern of bacteria recovered from the hands of nurses and physicians in two service units of a major teaching hospital were compared with those found in a control population. Significant differences in the composition of bacteria were found in dermatology and oncology unit personnel. Staphylococcus aureus was recovered from 31% of dermatology nurses and 37% of dermatology physicians compared with 20% of oncology nurses, 15% of oncology physicians, and 17% of controls. Oncology personnel had a significantly higher carriage of gramnegative bacteria, yeasts, and multiple antibiotic-resistant, aerobic coryneforms (group JK bacteria). Both dermatology and oncology nursing personnel were colonized by organisms resistant to multiple antibiotics. Methicillin resistance was found in 26% and 66% of the staphylococci recovered from dermatology and oncology nurses respectively. Flora from physicians on the two units had sensitivity patterns similar to controls.

Type
Original Articles
Information
Infection Control & Hospital Epidemiology , Volume 9 , Issue 5 , May 1988 , pp. 189 - 193
Copyright
Copyright © The Society for Healthcare Epidemiology of America 1988

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