Summary
Background
Evidence suggests that doffing and possibly disposal of used personal protective equipment
(PPE) can lead to environmental contamination.
Aim
To ascertain the potential for site and floor contamination when medical gloves are
inappropriately disposed.
Methods
Fifteen healthcare workers (HCWs) disposed of gloves inoculated with bacteriophage
and a chemical dye into a wastebasket, located 1.22 m away. Following each trial,
designated sample areas were visually inspected with a blacklight for fluorescent
dye stains and swabbed with a 3M Letheen Broth sponge to quantify the bacteriophage.
Findings
The area closest to the participant (<0.30 m) had the highest bacteriophage concentrations
(geomean: 6.9 × 103 pfu/100 cm2; range: 8.07 to 3.93 × 107 pfu/100 cm2). Bacteriophage concentrations were significantly higher (P < 0.05) in areas ≤0.61 m compared to >0.61 m from the HCWs. Although the farthest
distances (1.22–1.52 m) resulted in 14% bacteriophage- and 4% fluorescent dye-positive
occurrences, there was no significant difference (P = 0.069) between the tracers. The bacteriophage and chemical dye indicate highest
environmental contamination nearest the HCWs and both tracers could be appropriate
for PPE disposal training.
Conclusion
HCWs use gloves every workday and potentially could contaminate surrounding surfaces
and floors, during improper disposal practices. Therefore, proper disposal techniques
are required to minimize pathogen transmission by establishing industry-wide policies,
adequate training, and education to HCWs.
Keywords
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 22, 2018
Accepted:
October 15,
2018
Received:
August 24,
2018
Identification
Copyright
© 2018 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
