Abstract
Reportedly, methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) can survive for a few weeks on surfaces in nursing environments. However, the survival of MRSA attached to different materials used in medical devices which may come into contact with inpatients, such as bedside rails, linen, and other equipment in nursing environments, has not been fully discussed. We examined the survival of Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) attached to different materials found in nursing environments, such as cotton and polypropylene cloth, as well as silicone rubber, copper, brass, aluminum, and stainless steel, at 5, 20, and 35°C. Among the strains attached to polypropylene cloth or aluminum or stainless steel, methicillin-sensitive S. aureus [MSSA (ATCC 29213)], MRSA (ATCC 43300), and MRSA [environmental-origin MRSA (L1)] strains isolated from nursing environments in the health-care facility survived after 30 days at 5 or 20°C. Among strains attached to cotton cloth, MSSA, MRSA, and environmental-origin MRSA (L1) survived after 15 days at 5 and 20°C, but no strains survived after 7 days at 35°C. Among strains attached to copper or brass, MSSA, MRSA, and environmental-origin MRSA (L1) survived just after attachment in suspension, but no strains survived after drying at 5, 20, or 35°C. These results suggest that the survival of MRSA depends on the attached material. Therefore, adequate disinfection and cleaning of surfaces is essential to prevent transmission of MRSA through equipment or materials in nursing environments, because MRSA may survive for more than 30 days on some metal or nonmetal materials.
