Background
We sought to characterize and quantify bacteria of medical interest on commonly touched
household surfaces and to evaluate predictors such as employment, day care attendance,
and presence of infants and pets.
Methods
A convenience sample of 35 homes was recruited from the metro-Boston area, and up
to 32 surfaces were sampled in kitchens, bathrooms, and living areas.
Results
Highest bacterial counts were associated with wet sites including hand/skin contact
surfaces such as the tub, kitchen sink, and faucet handles. Surfaces were found to
be contaminated with the bacteria of medical interest including species of Enterobacteriaceae, Pseudomonas, methicillin-sensitive Staphyloccus aureus (MSSA), and methicillin-resistant Staphyloccus aureus (MRSA).
Conclusion
A number of hand/skin contact surfaces were found to be frequently contaminated with
one or more of the bacteria of medical interest. The presence of a cat in the home
was found to be a strong predictor for the isolation of MRSA. This study provides
further insight about microorganisms of medical interest on surfaces in American homes
and the impact of factors that can influence bacterial contamination. The study may
indicate that cleaning in private homes should be directed to the areas pinpointed
by the study as very rich in bacteria of potential medical importance.
Key Words
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Article Info
Publication History
Published online: April 10, 2009
Footnotes
Supported by ReckittBenckiser and by a HSPH-NIOSH Education and Research Center Pilot Project Grant T42 OH008416-01.
Conflicts of interest: None to report.
Identification
Copyright
© 2009 Association for Professionals in Infection Control and Epidemiology, Inc. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
