Spread of Staphylococcus aureus between medical staff and high-frequency contact surfaces in a large metropolitan hospital

Objective:To examine whether bacteria are transferred between the hands of medical staff and high-frequency contact surfaces within and between departments of a major metropolitan hospital,and to further analyze the patterns of cross-transmission.Methods:Microbiological samples were collected from the hands of 112 hospital employees as well as from 120 high-frequency contact surfaces in four hospital departments.Samples were collected on agar plates,analyzed for the presence of Staphylococcus aureus or methicillin-resistant S.aureus(MRSA)by standard microbiology testing,and partially genotyped using pulsed-field gel electrophoresis.Results:Genetically identical MRSA was identified on the surface of an electrocardiography device in the medical intensive care unit and on the same type of device in the neurosurgical unit.Genetically similar S.aureus was identified on an infusion pump in the medical intensive care unit and on the hands of several doctors in a different department who regularly use that pump.Genetically identical S.aureus was also identified on bedside rail restraint in the medical intensive care unit and on the hands of the nurse in the neurosurgical unit.Finally,genetically similar MRSA was identified both on the surface of an electrocardiography device and on the suction apparatus in the medical intensive care unit.Conclusion:Cross-contamination of S.aureus or MRSA on medical workers'hands and contact surfaces was demonstrated within and between departments of a large metropolitan hospital.Improvements are needed in medical staff hygiene habits and in the cleaning of highfrequency contact surfaces to help prevent and control nosocomial infections.

Emergency Biosafety Management Practice in Laboratory of Shelter Hospital

At the end of 2019,the novel coronavirus infection outbroke in Wuhan,Hubei Province.On Feb.2,2020,Wuhan,as the worst-hit region,began to build“shelter hospital”rapidly to treat patients with mild ilness.The shelter hospital has multiple functions such as emergency treatment,surgical treatment and clinical test,which can adapt to emergency medical rescue tasks.Based on the characteristics that shelter hospital only treats patients with mild ilness,tests of shelter laboratory,including coronavirus nucleic acid detection,IgM/IgG antibody serology detection,monitoring and auxiliary diagnosis and/or a required blood routine,urine routine,C-reactive protein,calcitonin original,biochemical indicators(liver enzymes,myocardial enzymes,renal function,etc.)and blood coagulation function test etc,were used to provide important basis for the diagnosis and treatment of the disease.In order to ensure laboratory biosafety,it is necessary to first evaluate the harm level of various specimens.In the laboratory biosafety management,the harm level assessment of microorganisms is the core work of biosafety,which is of great significance to guarantee biosafety.As an emergency deployment afcted by the environment,shelter laboratory must possess strong mobility.This paper will explore how to combine the biosafety model of traditional laboratory with the particularity of shelter laboratory to carry out effective work in response to the current epidemic.