Role of the Environment in the Spread of MDROs

It is generally assumed that the healthcare environment can serve as a reservoir for multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs). However, definitive evidence supporting this concept has been lacking. To better assess this issue, investigators undertook a prospective investigation at two hospitals to characterize whether, when, and in what directions MDRO pathogens transfer between patients and the hospital environment. The researchers assessed 80 patient-room encounters involving patients admitted to recently cleaned general ward rooms where the preceding patient had been placed on contact precautions. Investigators collected samples from both the patient and the environment on the day of admission and at defined intervals thereafter and te…