The NICU flora: An effective technique to sample surfaces.

ABSTRACT:

Objective

Environmental surface sampling in healthcare settings is not routinely recommended. There are several methods for environmental surface sampling, however the yield of these methods is not well defined. The aim of the present study is to compare two methods of environmental surface sampling, to characterize the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) flora, compare it with rates of infection and colonization and correlate it with the workload.

Design and setting

First, the yield of the swab and the gauze-pad methods were compared. Then, longitudinal surveillance of environmental surface sampling was performed over 6 months,once weekly, from pre-specified locations in the NICU. Samples were streaked onto selective media and bacterial colonies were identified using matrix

SUBMITTER: Sultan N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8460043 | biostudies-literature | 2021

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature