An Evaluation of Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus Aureus Survival on Five Environmental Surfaces

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

8-2011

Publication Title

Microbial Drug Resistance

Volume

17

Issue

3

First page number:

457

Last page number:

461

Abstract

This study evaluated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) survival on environmental surfaces: glass, wood, vinyl, plastic, and cloth. Effects of relative humidity (RH) and bovine serum albumin (BSA) were examined. Surfaces were inoculated with 10(7)-10(8) colony forming units per milliliter (CFU/ml)of MRSA with and without 1% BSA and incubated at 35°C at 45%-55% and 16% RH. Surfaces were sampled, and each collected sample was re-suspended in phosphate buffer, spread plated, and incubated at 35°C for 24 hrs; resulting colonies were enumerated. Samples were collected immediately on drying, and at 3 hrs, 24 hrs, 2 days, 3 days, 4 days, and 5 days. Results demonstrated that MRSA survived the longest on plastic and vinyl and for the least amount of time on wood (p < 0.001). BSA enabled MRSA to survive for significantly longer duration (p < 0.001). The number of CFU/ml was significantly lesser on surfaces stored in 45%-55% RH versus 16% RH. This study demonstrates that viable MRSA bacteria can remain on surfaces for days, which may impact the public health of occupants in workplace and residential settings.

Disciplines

Environmental Public Health | Public Health

Language

English

Comments

Final publication is available from Mary Ann Liebert, Inc., publishers http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1089/mdr.2011.0007

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