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Bacterial contamination of surgical loupes and headlights

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  22 April 2019

C Purcell ,
N Moolman ,
C MacKay ,
T F Hatchette ,
J Trites ,
S M Taylor ,
M H Rigby  and
R D Hart
C Purcell*
Affiliation:
Division of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
N Moolman
Affiliation:
Division of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
C MacKay
Affiliation:
Division of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
T F Hatchette
Affiliation:
Division of Microbiology, Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Nova Scotia Health Authority, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
J Trites
Affiliation:
Division of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
S M Taylor
Affiliation:
Division of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
M H Rigby
Affiliation:
Division of Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery, Dalhousie University, Halifax, Nova Scotia, Canada
R D Hart
Affiliation:
Advanced Head and Neck Oncology and Microvascular Reconstruction, Thyroid and Parathyroid Surgery, Foothills Medical Centre, Faculty of Medicine; Department of Surgery, Section of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, University of Calgary, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
*
Author for correspondence: Dr Chad Purcell, Rm 3039 Dickson Building, Dalhousie University, 5820 University Ave., Halifax NS B3H 1V7, Canada E-mail: chad.purcell@dal.ca
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Abstract

Background

Medical equipment can transmit pathogenic bacteria to patients. This single-institution point prevalence study aimed to characterise the types and relative amount of bacteria found on surgical loupes, headlights and their battery packs.

Method

Surgical loupes, headlights and battery packs of 16 otolaryngology staff and residents were sampled, cultured and quantified. Plate scores were summed for each equipment type, and the total was divided by the number of users to generate mean bacterial burden scores. Residents completed a questionnaire regarding their equipment cleaning practices.

Results

The contamination rates of loupes, headlights and battery packs were 68.75 per cent, 100 per cent and 75 per cent, respectively. Battery packs cultured more bacteria (1.58 per swab ± 1.00) than loupes (0.75 per swab ± 0.66; p = 0.024). Headlights had non-significantly greater growth (1.50 per swab ± 0.71) than loupes (p = 0.052). Bacterial growth was significantly higher from inner surfaces of loupes (p = 0.035) and headlights (p = 0.037). Potentially pathogenic bacteria were cultured from the equipment of five participants, including: Pantoea agglomerans, Acinetobacter radioresistens, Staphylococcus aureus, Acinetobacter calcoaceticus baumannii complex and Moraxella osloensis.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that surgical loupes and headlights used in otolaryngology harbour non-pathogenic skin flora and potentially pathogenic bacteria.

Keywords

Equipment And SuppliesCross InfectionInfectious Disease TransmissionProfessional-To-Patient
Type
Main Articles
Information
The Journal of Laryngology & Otology , Volume 133 , Issue 5 , May 2019 , pp. 436 - 440
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited, 2019 

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Footnotes

Dr C Purcell takes responsibility for the integrity of the content of the paper

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