Flocked nylon swabs versus RODAC plates for detection of multidrug-resistant organisms on environmental surfaces in intensive care units. Issue 1 (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Okamoto, K.; Rhee, Y.; Schoeny, M.; Lolans, K.; Cheng, J.; Reddy, S.; Weinstein, R.A.; Hayden, M.K.; Popovich, K.J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of hospital infection. Volume 98:Issue 1(2018)
• Page Start: 105
• Page End: 108
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Nylon fibre flocked swabs -- RODAC plates -- Multidrug-resistant organisms -- Culture methods -- Environmental surfaces -- Intensive care unit; Cross infection -- Periodicals; Cross infection -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Nosocomial infections -- Periodicals; Nosocomial infections -- Prevention -- Periodicals; Cross Infection -- Periodicals; Cross Infection -- prevention & control -- Periodicals; Infection Control -- Periodicals; Electronic journals; 614.44
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jhin.2017.09.028
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0195-6701

Abstract

Summary: To compare two culture methods [nylon fiber flocked swabs with broth enrichment versus RODAC ('replicate organism detection and counting') plates] for recovery of multidrug-resistant organisms, 780 environmental surfaces in 63 rooms of patients on contact precautions in four intensive care units at one hospital were examined. Among sites that had at least one positive culture, swab culture with broth enrichment detected the target organisms more frequently than RODAC plates (37.5% vs 26.0%, P = 0.06). There was moderate agreement between the two methods (κ = 0.44) with agreement better for small or flat surfaces compared to large or irregular surfaces.