1. The impact of microbial surveys on disinfection protocols in a chiropractic college environment.
- Author
-
Burnham K, Peterson D, Vavrek D, and Haas M
- Subjects
- Ambulatory Care Facilities statistics & numerical data, Analysis of Variance, Bacteriological Techniques, Chiropractic education, Clinical Protocols, Colony Count, Microbial, Disinfection statistics & numerical data, Environmental Monitoring, Equipment Contamination statistics & numerical data, Gram-Positive Bacteria growth & development, Humans, Infection Control methods, Linear Models, Longitudinal Studies, Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus growth & development, Oregon, Organizational Policy, Student Health Services statistics & numerical data, Time Factors, Chiropractic instrumentation, Disinfection methods, Equipment Contamination prevention & control, Schools, Health Occupations organization & administration
- Abstract
Objective: A baseline microbial survey was conducted to identify the microbes present on the headpieces of chiropractic adjusting tables from across the Western States Chiropractic College, Portland, Ore, facilities. This included the instructional adjustive technique laboratories, the student health center, the campus outpatient clinic, and an off-site clinic. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of disinfection protocols over time at a chiropractic college., Methods: Four samplings were done for a 12-month period. A total of 69 treatment tables were tested. Sampling was done directly to blood agar (5% sheep blood) plates. Data obtained from the clinic locations were analyzed using linear regression models., Results: Identification of microbes by differential staining and biochemical analysis yielded a variety of gram-positive bacteria in all 4 surveys. The numbers of bacterial colonies decreased in the second survey after changes to disinfection protocols. The number of colonies continued to remain below baseline in the third and fourth surveys. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was found in the clinics in 3 of 4 surveys. Methicillin-resistant S aureus was not detected in the technique laboratories., Conclusions: Various microbes were identified on the headpieces of adjusting tables in the college instructional technique laboratories and college clinics. Changing the disinfection protocols reduced the number of bacteria found in the second survey. In addition, the third and fourth surveys showed fewer bacterial colonies than baseline, suggesting that compliance with disinfection protocols continued over time.
- Published
- 2009
- Full Text
- View/download PDF