Identification badge lanyards as infection control risk: a cross-sectional observation study with epidemiological analysis

C M Murphy; F Di Ruscio; M Lynskey; J Collins; E McCullough; R Cosgrave; D McDonnell; J Fennell

doi:10.1016/j.jhin.2017.01.008

Identification badge lanyards as infection control risk: a cross-sectional observation study with epidemiological analysis

J Hosp Infect. 2017 May;96(1):63-66. doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2017.01.008. Epub 2017 Jan 21.

Authors

C M Murphy¹, F Di Ruscio², M Lynskey³, J Collins², E McCullough², R Cosgrave³, D McDonnell³, J Fennell⁴

Affiliations

¹ Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention and Control, The Adelaide and Meath Hospitals, Dublin, Ireland. Electronic address: clairemurphy1104@gmail.com.
² Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention and Control, The Adelaide and Meath Hospitals, Dublin, Ireland.
³ Department of Infection Prevention and Control, The Adelaide and Meath Hospitals, Dublin incorporating the National Children's Hospital, Tallaght, Dublin, Ireland.
⁴ Department of Microbiology and Infection Prevention and Control, The Adelaide and Meath Hospitals, Dublin, Ireland; Department of Clinical Microbiology, Trinity College, University of Dublin, Dublin, Ireland.

PMID: 28215625
DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2017.01.008

Abstract

Staphylococcus aureus cultures from name badge lanyards were phenotypically and genotypically indistinguishable from the wearer's nasal carrier strains by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis and antibiogram. Lanyards had a mean age of 22 months and hygiene was poor with only 9% ever having been laundered. Molecular analysis showed that 26% of S. aureus nasal carriers shared an indistinguishable strain on their lanyard. Lanyards should not be recommended for staff in frontline clinical care.

Keywords: Infection; Lanyard; Molecular analysis; Staphylococcus aureus.

Publication types

Comparative Study
Observational Study

MeSH terms

Cross Infection / epidemiology
Cross Infection / microbiology*
Cross Infection / transmission
Cross-Sectional Studies
Electrophoresis, Gel, Pulsed-Field / methods
Environmental Microbiology
Genotype
Health Personnel / education
Humans
Hygiene / education
Infection Control / methods
Ireland / epidemiology
Microbial Sensitivity Tests / methods
Molecular Biology / methods
Nasal Mucosa / microbiology*
Phenotype
Risk
Staphylococcal Infections / epidemiology
Staphylococcal Infections / genetics*
Staphylococcus aureus / genetics*
Staphylococcus aureus / growth & development