Badges Cause Hospital Hygiene Threat

Dr Rhonda Stuart, an Infectious Diseases Physician at the Monash Medical Centre in Melbourne, and her co-authors found that identity badges and lanyards were capable of harbouring bacteria such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA).

Their study showed lanyards were more common hiding places for infectious bacteria than badges.

"Lanyards and identify badges are worn by both male and female clinical staff for long periods of time without cleaning," say the authors.

"Their position at waist level and their pendulous nature increase the risk that they will become contaminated."

The authors recommend that regular disinfection of identity badges may reduce bacterial pathogen contamination, but ultimately, strict staff hand hygiene is the best way to prevent cross-infection.

In a related editorial in the Journal, Professor Peter Collignon, Director of Infectious Diseases and Microbiology at Canberra Hospital, says while it's helpful to know where MRSA is to be found, the main focus should be on ways of stopping MRSA being spread via the hands.

"If we use regular hand hygiene procedures with alcohol/disinfectant solutions we can reduce serious infections caused by MRSA," Prof Collignon says.

He also advocates better screening policies to identify which patients may be carrying MRSA, greater use of appropriate gowns and gloves for health care workers, an increase in provision of single rooms, and reduced overcrowding in emergency departments.

"The questions is, how do we change our current work practices and behaviour to ensure that these important elements are followed, not just some of the time, but all the time?"

The Medical Journal of Australia is a publication of the Australian Medical Association.