Sage Journals: Discover world-class research

Abstract

Static electric charge at the surface of nurses’ plastic aprons was examined as a possible contributor to hospital infections in a bone marrow transplant ward. Transplant patients undergo high-dose chemotherapy and radiotherapy which compromises the immune system, rendering these patients highly susceptible to infecting organisms. Results of this pilot study showed that the velocity of a bacterium in air close to the apron surface was sufficient for swift attraction onto the surface. In addition, an electric field may be induced around the patient by the presence of the plastic apron, attracting airborne bacteria directly onto the patient. Tests showed that the polyethylene plastic aprons attracted about 83% more bacteria onto their surfaces during wear, compared with only 17% more acquired by aluminium foil aprons. We suggest that these results implicate static charge on aprons as a mediator of hospital infection.

Keywords

Static charge Charge decay times Static electric fields Electrical potential Hospital infection Plastic aprons

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

National Audit Office , 2000. The Management and Control of Hospital Acquired Infection in Acute NHS Trusts in England, National Audit Office Press Notice , ISBN: 0105566659

Allen JE , Henshaw DL , Wynne H , Ross F , Oakhill A : Static electric charge may contribute to infections in bone marrow transplant wards : J Hosp Infect 2003;54: 80–85 .

Todd NJ , Millar MR , Dealler SR , Williams S : Letter to the Editor: Inadvertent intravenous infusion of mucor during parenteral feeding of a neonate : J Hosp Infect 1990;15: 295–297 .

Becker R , Kristjanson A , Walker J : Static electricity as a mechanism of bacterial transfer during endoscopic surgery : Surg Endosc 1996;10: 397–399 .

Cozanitis DA , Ojajarvi J , Makela P : Antistatic treatment for reducing airborne contamination of insulating materials in intensive care : Acta Anaes Scand 1988;32: 343–346 .

Noble WC : Dispersal of microorganisms from skin. In: Microbiology of Human Skin , 2nd edn. London, Lloyd-Luke Ltd , 1981, pp. 79–85.

Noble WC : The size distribution of airborne particles carrying Clostridium welchii : J Path Bact 1961;81: 523–526 .

Lidwell OM , Noble WC , Dolphin GW : The use of radiation to estimate the numbers of micro-organisms in air-borne particles : J Hyg 1959;57: 299–308 .

Quebbman EJ : Preparing the operating room. In: American College of Surgeons . Care of the Surgical Patient. New York, Scientific American Inc. , 1993.

10.

Mainelis G , Willeke K , Baron P , Grinshpun SA , Reponen T : Induction charging and electrostatic classification of micrometer-size particles for investigating the electrobiological properties of airborne micro-organisms : Aerosol Sci Technol 2002;36: 479–491 .

11.

Mainelis G , Willeke K , Baron P , Reponen T , Grinshpun SA , Górny RL , Trakumas S : Electrical charges on airborne micro-organisms : J Aerosol Soc 2001;32: 1087–1110 .

Static Electric Fields as a Mediator of Hospital Infection

Abstract

Keywords

Get full access to this article

References