Research

Identity tags: A vector for cross-infection?

Sharon Gail Cox, Abdus Burahee, Amanda Lucier, Chamara Fernando, Stanley Mugambi Machoki

Abstract


Background. Nosocomial infections represent one of the challenging problems of modern medicine. Healthcare providers play an important role in the transmission of these infections on their hands, clothing and equipment. Modern security systems require personnel to wear clearly displayed identity (ID) tags, and to have an easily accessible access disc. These access and ID tags are often worn around the neck on a lanyard, and could possibly harbour bacteria and be a vector for cross-infection.

Method. Saline-moistened swabs of the front and back of ID tags of 50 healthcare workers were taken for bacterial culture. Swabs were inoculated onto standard microbiological media. Potential pathogens were subjected to sensitivity testing while organisms resembling normal skin commensals were reported as such.

Results. Twenty-eight of the 50 (56%) ID swabs cultured exhibited no bacterial growth. Eighteen (36%) swabs grew primarily skin flora. Neutrophils were observed under microscopy on two (4%) swabs. Seven (14%) swabs grew potentially pathogenic bacteria. Doctors were found to have almost three times the risk of carrying pathogenic bacteria on their ID tags compared with nurses. Recent patient contact also showed a higher incidence of colonisation. There were no statistically significant differences between variables such as ward or area of work, nature of patient contact, time since qualification, level of qualification or length of employment at Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital, Cape Town, South Africa.

Conclusions. Prevention of hospital-acquired infections is important in any setting. The ID tag has been identified as a possible source of infection spread in this and previous studies. The ID tag has to date been neglected as a potential source of pathogen spread, and efforts to make staff aware of this potential danger should be considered in every institution. 



Authors' affiliations

Sharon Gail Cox, Department of Paediatric Surgery, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and University of Cape Town, South Africa

Abdus Burahee, Medical student, University of Birmingham Medical School, UK

Amanda Lucier, Medical student, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

Chamara Fernando, Medical student, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA

Stanley Mugambi Machoki, Department of Paediatric Surgery, Red Cross War Memorial Children’s Hospital and University of Cape Town, South Africa

Full Text

PDF (74KB)

Keywords

Nosocomial infection; Colonisation; Identity tag; Vector

Cite this article

South African Medical Journal 2016;106(5):494-496. DOI:10.7196/SAMJ.2016.v106i5.9949

Article History

Date submitted: 2015-08-31
Date published: 2016-04-19

Article Views

Abstract views: 5459
Full text views: 1879

Comments on this article

*Read our policy for posting comments here