Single-institution experience of medical students' bacterial colonization during training

Abstract

Background: Medical students are often potential vectors for resistant bacteria to their entourage. We therefore conducted this study to evaluate the variation of medical students' multiple drug resistant bacterial flora throughout their medical training.

Methods: We performed a cross-sectional study enrolling medical students of the 2016 academic year from the Saint-Joseph University - Faculty of Medicine, Lebanon.

Results: The multivariate analysis identified the medical year as the sole factor contributing to the extended spectrum beta-lactamase producing Enterobacteriaceae colonization (OR = 2.33 [1.14-4.77], P = 0.021).

Discussion: Lack of hygiene knowledge among medical trainees is not uncommon. Hence, the degree of clinical exposure predicts their risk of contamination from critically ill patients.

Conclusions: Implementing regular and practical training in line with a behavioral modification program would limit the colonization of medical students with resistant germs.

Keywords: Colonization; Infection control; Medical students; Resistant bacteria; Screening.