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. 2009 Aug;37(6):505-6.
doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2008.11.005. Epub 2009 Feb 25.

Are toilet seats a vector for transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus?

Mary Anne Giannini  1 , Donna Nance, Jonathan A McCullers
Affiliations

Are toilet seats a vector for transmission of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus?

Mary Anne Giannini et al. Am J Infect Control. 2009 Aug.

Abstract

We studied the bacterial burden on toilet seats in a children's cancer hospital to validate a policy requesting that immunocompromised children use alcohol wipes on the seats prior to use of the toilets. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) was recovered from 3.3% of hospital toilets when wipes were not in use. Use of wipes resulted in a 50-fold reduction in mean daily bacterial counts and eliminated MRSA.

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