Contamination of environmental surfaces by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA)

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) contamination on the environmental surfaces in each hospital ward containing ten patients with endemic MRSA, were detected and quantified. Thirty (45%) of 67 environmental surfaces yielded MRSA. No MRSA was found on the walls or curtains, but 2-24,000 colony forming units (CFU)/100 cm(2) were detected on the floors, 0-290 CFU/100 cm(2) on the bed linen, and 0-86 CFU/100 cm(2) on the overbed tables. MRSA was also detected on the side rails of the bed and the room door handles. These results suggest that the environment surrounding patients colonized or infected with MRSA can be reservoirs of MRSA.