The Inanimate Environment of an Intensive Care Unit as a Potential Source of Nosocomial Bacteria Evidence for Long Survival ofAcinetobacter calcoaceticus

Abstract

Environmental surface and personnel hand impression cultures were obtained during 13 sampling periods in the University of Virginia Pediatric Intensive Care Unit to document potential reservoirs of nosocomial pathogens. In 78 environmental culturesStaphylococcus aureuswas found eight times and gram-negative bacilli ten times. The patient chart cover was the most commonly contaminated surface.Acinetobacter calcoaceticuswas found in five of ten cultures positive for gram-negative bacilli. Thirty of 59 hand cultures were positive for Saureusand gram-negative bacilli; nurses and residents had both, respiratory therapists only gram-negative bacilli, andA calcoaceticuswas the most commonly isolated bacterium of potentially nosocomial significance (14/30). Laboratory investigation of bacterial survival revealed that gramnegative bacilli survived on a dry formica surface from a few hours up to three days butAcinetobactersurvived up to 13 days. SinceA calcoaceticushas been implicated in many nosocomial infections, its long survival on a dry surface may be an additional factor in its transmission in hospitals and suggests that more attention be paid to environmental surfaces as a source of significant nosocomial pathogens.