Molecular epidemiology of environmental MRSA at an equine teaching hospital: introduction, circulation and maintenance

Table 3 Prevalence of MRSA contamination on human and animal contact surfaces at an equine teaching hospital

Contact surface	MRSA/samples collected	Prevalence per surface
*Human contact surfaces*
Computers (keyboards and mouse)¹	4/24	16.7%
Counter tops & cabinets	6/58	10.3%
Doors	10/103	9.7%
Charts/files	1/12	8.3%
Endoscope (Controls)	1/12	8.3%
Ultrasound (Controls)	1/12	8.3%
Carts	0/22	0.0%
Counter tops, cabinets & sink²	0/12	0.0%
Hoist Controls	0/12	0.0%
Twitches (Handle)	0/12	0.0%
Pool samples J and K³	5/24	20.8%
Pool samples C, G, H, I, L, M, and N⁴	10/83	12.0%
Pool samples A, B, D, E, and F⁵	5/58	8.6%
Total	43/444	9.7%
*Animal contact surfaces*
Feed & water buckets	2/12	16.7%
Surgery table & mats	7/45	15.6%
CT table	1/12	8.3%
Floor	1/12	8.3%
Foal bed	1/12	8.3%
Foal cart	1/12	8.3%
Railing	1/12	8.3%
Twitches (chain)	1/12	8.3%
Ultrasound (probe)	1/12	8.3%
Mats & floor⁶	3/47	6.4%
Door, wall & floor²	0/12	0.0%
Endoscope	0/12	0.0%
Floor, drain & stall mat⁷	0/12	0.0%
Foal watch mats	0/12	0.0%
Stocks	0/12	0.0%
Pool samples O, P, and Q⁸	4/36	11.1%
Total	23/326	7.1%

¹Two computers (Keyboards and mouse) were sample as a pool.
²Surfaces sampled from four isolation stalls as a pool.
³Pool samples J and K included: Light switches, counter tops, computers (keyboards and mouse), phone and doors within the same area. These Pool samples were collected from General Areas.
⁴Pool samples C, G, H, I, L, M, and N included: Counter tops, cabinets and other contact surfaces within the same area. These Pool samples were collected from Intensive Care Unit, Surgery and General Areas.
⁵Pool samples A, B, D, E, and F included: Light switches, phone, oxygen and suction valves, radio, microwave, lamps and medical carts within the same area. These Pool samples were collected from Internal Medicine, Intensive Care Unit and Surgery.
⁶Samples collected in the surgery recovery rooms.
⁷Surfaces sampled in three stalls as a pool.
⁸Pool samples O, P, and Q included: Halters, hay bags, and muzzles (3 of each) within the same ward. These Pool samples were collected from Internal Medicine, Intensive Care Unit and Surgery.

ISSN: 1297-9716