Oxygen cylinders act as a fomite for methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), according to a new study in the Emergency Medicine Journal, December. In the study, researchers tested the surface of nine oxygen cylinders and regulators located in ambulances at an emergency medical services (EMS) station in North Alabama, USA. Seventy offsite oxygen cylinders were also tested. Last year, a study reported in the September 2018 issue of American Journal of Infection Control found that patient privacy curtains surrounding patient beds in hospitals become progressively contaminated with bacteria, including MRSA.
The increased MRSA positivity was observed between 10 and 14 days after being hung. By the 14th day, seven (87.5%) of the eight test curtains were positive for MRSA. This was the time to either change or clean the curtains, suggested the study. A new study published online…
