Bacteria on the hands of school-age children at a Pediatric Hospitalization Unit

objective. to estimate the prevalence of bacteria isolated in samples from the hands of school-age children at a hospitalization unit. methodology. in 2009, strains were cultured from the hands of 90 school-age children at the pediatric hospitalization unit of hospital estadual bauru (s？o paulo, brazil). after culture of the samples, the isolated bacteria were identified. results. in 98% of the samples taken from the children, bacteria were isolated. coagulase-negative staphilococcus was isolated in 64% of the samples, followed by staphilococcus aureus (5%) and pseudomonas aeruginosa (1%). conclusion. in most of the samples from the children's hands, bacteria were isolated. therefore, educative actions about hygiene habits in- and outside the hospital environment should be reinforced, aimed at children and their companions.