%0 Journal Article
%T Contamination of wheelchairs by Staphylococcus aureus
%A Harumasa Hakuno
%A Shigeharu Oie
%A Hiroyuki Furukawa
%J Journal of Hospital Administration
%D 2012
%I 
%R 10.5430/jha.v2n2p55
%X We investigated Staphylococcus aureus contamination of the hand rims and handles of wheelchairs for common use on hospital wards by wiping with gauze. Examination of the hand rims of a total of 20 wheelchairs revealed methicillin-sensitive S. aureus (MSSA) and/or methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) on 17 wheelchairs (85.0%), and MRSA on 11 (55.0%). The mean ¡À SD (range) density of MRSA contamination was 320.8 ¡À 812.3 (2-2.8¡Á103) colony-forming units (cfu)/hand rim. Examination of the handles of the 20 wheelchairs showed MRSA on 3 (15.0%). The incidence of S. aureus contamination and its density were higher on hand rims than on handles. After the hand rims were disinfected by wiping with 80vol% ethanol, S. aureus was not detected on any of them. Since S. aureus may potentially be transmitted via shared wheelchairs, their disinfection after every use is recommended.
%U http://www.sciedu.ca/journal/index.php/jha/article/view/2081