The type of flooring in hospitals has long been scrutinized in terms of its potential role in nosocomial (hospital-acquired) infections. This study was conducted for the purpose of detecting potential pathogens on tiled carpets, nontiled carpets, and vinyl flooring, all used in a Midwestern community hospital. A swab sampling protocol conducted over a 5-month period, coupled with denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis-16S rDNA molecular analysis, allowed for greater than 93% of the major components in the flooring samples to be identified at the genus and species level. This study evaluates the impact of floor finish materials as potential sources of microbial-related hospital-acquired infections. © 2010 SAGE Publications.
CITATION STYLE
Harris, D. D., Pacheco, A., & Lindner, A. S. (2010). Detecting potential pathogens on hospital surfaces: An assessment of carpet tile flooring in the hospital patient environment. Indoor and Built Environment, 19(2), 239–249. https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X09347050
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