Stool colonization of healthcare workers with selected resistant bacteria

Infect Control Hosp Epidemiol. 1998 Jan;19(1):38-40. doi: 10.1086/647705.

Abstract

We examined the carriage of selected resistant bacteria in the stools of healthcare workers who provided direct patient care. Neither vancomycin-resistant enterococci, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, nor Clostridium difficile was recovered from the 55 stool specimens collected. A ceftazidime-resistant Citrobacter freundii was isolated from one specimen. We conclude that the stool of healthcare workers is colonized infrequently with these resistant organisms.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Bacterial Infections / epidemiology*
  • Bacterial Infections / transmission*
  • Drug Resistance, Microbial
  • Feces / microbiology*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Infectious Disease Transmission, Patient-to-Professional*
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Personnel, Hospital*
  • Prevalence
  • United States / epidemiology