SURVIVAL OF STAPHYLOCOCCAL SPECIES ON RELEVANT MEDICAL SURFACES

Abstract

Health-care-associated infections (HA Is) have increased over the past 20 years even with the increase in regulations and technology. Staphylococcal infections are the second most common HAI. With increased numbers of staphylococcal infections, health-care professionals have seen increased incidence of .methicillinresistant Staphylococcus aureus (M RSA) as well as vancomycin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (VRSA). These antibiotic resistant strains are even more dangerous in a health-care setting due to many patients being immune-compromised. The environmental stability of Staphylococcal species on health-care relevant surfaces is key to inform reduction of the spread of HAI.s. A multifactorial study will be performed to evaluate different species/strains of Staphylococcal bacteria, different health-care relevant surfaces, various sized droplets containing bacteria in multiple matrices and different percentages of relevant relative humidity to determine how these parameters alter the surface stability of health-care relevant bacterial species. These results will inform decontamination and health-care practices to reduce the potential of nosocomial infections