Microbiology of hand towels on surgical wards.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION : Frequent ablution followed by hand drying is recommended in surgical wards as prophylaxis against cross infection. It is recommended that hands are dried using " clean" towels. Aim : This study was designed to evaluate the microbiological flora of towels routinely used for hand drying in surgical wards at General Hospital Ragama. METHODS : Fifteen towels which were in use from 15 wards visited on a single occasion were sampled using a sterile microbiological swab (one swab per towel). Each towel was sampled on both sides and at 20-24 randomly chosen sites. Four laundered towels were also sampled in a similar manner prior to use in the wards. Specimens were transported in brain heart infusion and plated on culture media within 2 hours. RESULTS : All towels used in the wards compared with none of the laundered towels revealed either mild or moderate growth of micro-organisms, (test of proportions P -0.00025 Organisms isolated number of towels were Acinetobacter species (10 ). Enterococcus species (14), Bacillus species (5) , Klcbsiella species (2), Staphylococcus aureus (2) and Escherichia coli species in one towel. Only one towel appeared clean. Fourteen appeared stained and visibly dirty to the naked eye. All 15 towels were damp. All control towels appeared clean and dry. CONCLUSION : All towels sampled in this study were found to harbour micro-organisms. This may contribute to cross infections on surgical wards. We believe, hand wiping using towels is unsafe-and suitable alternative methods should be sought.