%0 Journal Article
%T Microbiological Contamination of Bed Linen and Staff Uniforms in a Hospital
%A Anthony Pinon
%A Jessica Gachet
%A Virginie Alexandre
%A Sandra Decherf
%A Mich¨¨le Vialette
%J Advances in Microbiology
%P 515-519
%@ 2165-3410
%D 2013
%I Scientific Research Publishing
%R 10.4236/aim.2013.37069
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	<span lang=\"EN-US\">Hospital linen is clearly recognized as a potential reservoir for
microorganisms and could be a vector of disease transmission. The aim of this
study was to isolate, count and identify fungi and bacteria from different
kinds of clean and dirty linen in a hospital. Microbiological samples have been
collected on clean bed linen (n</span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> </span><span lang=\"EN-US\">=</span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> </span><span lang=\"EN-US\">200), dirty bed linen (n</span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> </span><span lang=\"EN-US\">=</span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> </span><span lang=\"EN-US\">192) and
staff uniforms (n</span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> </span><span lang=\"EN-US\">=</span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> </span><span lang=\"EN-US\">192) </span><span lang=\"EN-US\">by </span><span lang=\"EN-US\">using contact plates. 55% of samples from clean bed linen were
contaminated before contact with the patient, with a mean count of 3 cfu/25 cm<sup>2</sup> (range</span><span lang=\"EN-US\">:</span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> 1-117 cfu) when contaminated. Virtually all samples from dirty bed
linen carried microorganisms, with a mean count of 23 cfu/25 cm<sup>2</sup> (range 1-191 cfu). In addition, staff hospital uniforms showed the highest
contamination rates in the study, with an average of 45 cfu/25 cm<sup>2</sup> (range</span><span lang=\"EN-US\">:</span><span lang=\"EN-US\"> 1-218 cfu). Microbial species were mostly bacteria commonly found
in the environment or on human skin, <span style=\"letter-spacing:-.1pt;\">such as
staphylococci or micrococci. Nevertheless, 57% of the identified species may be
opportunistic pathogens for hu</span>mans, representing a risk for people with
a deficient or weakened immune system, especially in cases of superinfection.
Since contamination of linen seems to occur after washing, actively
antimicrobial textiles would represent a valuable measure to prevent textiles
from being a vehicle for transfer of microorganisms.</span><span lang=\"EN-US\"><o:p></o:p></span> 
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%K Linen
%K Bed Sheets
%K White Coat
%K Contamination
%K Hospital Acquired Infections
%U http://www.scirp.org/journal/PaperInformation.aspx?PaperID=40029