Presence and Persistence of Different Multi-Drug Resistant Bacteria on Hospital Staff Uniforms

Background: Uniforms of hospital staff are often contaminated during their daily patient care activities. Although most of microorganisms harbored on uniforms are commensal bacteria but also some pathogens and even multidrug resistant organisms may spread via contaminated uniforms. There are no standard policies regarding wearing uniforms outside the hospitals and this may spread infections to the community. Also, there is a debate regarding ideal policy for laundering uniforms either at hospital laundry or at home. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the ability of bacteria to spread and survive on different fabrics used for manufacturing uniforms. Methodology: during three months’ period (January to March 2018), 50 uniforms (white coats and scrubs) of 20 physicians and 30 nurses were sampled. Bacterial isolates were identified using standard microbiological methods. Multi-drug resistant organisms (MDROs) including Methicillin
Resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE), Extended-spectrum b-lactamase producing E. coli (ESBL), and MDR Pseudomonas auroginosa strains were tested for their survival time on different fabrics used in uniforms. Results: Thirty-five (70%) of uniforms were contaminated. MDROs isolated were 12 (16.2% of isolated bacteria) including MRSA (9.5%), VRE (1.3%), ESBL Escherichia coli (2.7%), and MDR Pseudomonas aeruginosa (2.7%). Different MDROs could survive longer on polyester. The survival time on cotton, cotton/polyester blend, and polyester varied from days to months. Conclusion: Hospital staff uniforms could be a vehicle of transmission of MDROs. Policies regarding wearing uniforms in streets, ideal frequencies of washing and changing uniforms in our hospital should be strictly regulated.