Tracking Staphylococcus aureus in ICU using Whole-Genome Sequencing

ConclusionColonized patients are responsible for repeated introduction of new S. aureus into ICU, whereupon a proportion spread to hand-touch sites in (or near) the patient zone. This short-term reservoir for S. aureus imposes a colonization/infection risk for subsequent patients. More than half of ICU-acquired S. aureus infection originated from the patients’ own flora while staff hands and air were rarely implicated in onward transmission. Control of staphylococcal infection in ICU is best served by patient screening, systematic cleaning of hand-touch surfaces and continued emphasis on hand hygiene.
Source: Journal of Hospital Infection - Category: Infectious Diseases Source Type: research