Journal
CLINICAL INFECTIOUS DISEASES
Volume 65, Issue 8, Pages 1412-1419Publisher
OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC
DOI: 10.1093/cid/cix462
Keywords
medical equipment; patient care items; fomite; healthcare-associated infections; outbreaks
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Funding
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science
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Patient-care items can serve as a source or reservoir for healthcare-associated pathogens in hospitals. We reviewed healthcare-associated outbreaks from medical equipment and provide infection prevention recommendations. Multiple healthcare-associated outbreaks via a contaminated patient-care item were identified, including infections with multidrug-resistant organisms. The type of patient care items implicated as a fomite causing healthcare-associated infections (HAIs) has changed over time. Patient populations at risk were most commonly critically ill patients in adult and neonatal intensive care units. Most fomite related healthcare-associated outbreaks were due to inappropriate disinfection practices. Repeated healthcare-associated outbreaks via medical equipment highlight the need for infectious disease professionals to understand that fomites/medical devices may be a source of HAIs. The introduction of new and more complex medical devices will likely increase the risk that such devices serve as a source of HAIs. Assuring appropriate cleaning and disinfection or sterilization of medical equipment is necessary to prevent future fomite-associated outbreaks.
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