911! MRSA in Ambulances!

Not on my Lego set-  MRSA in the ambulance.

The concern about MRSA is widespread, so it is no surprise that investigators studied the environmental burden of MRSA in ambulances and published a recent report in the Journal of Hospital Infection.


Ambulances were analysed for the presence of MRSA immediately after transport of MRSA-colonised or -infected patients. Eighty-nine of 100 transport events were analysed. Eight ambulance cars (9%) were contaminated. Transport time of 11–20 min did not result in a higher contamination rate than shorter transport time of 1–10 min. MRSA was detected only on the stretcher and not in the ambulance cabin walls.


Thus, ambulances are contaminated with MRSA even at short transport times. 


This is merely another reminder that the inanimate environment is not sterile. This can only be mitigated by proper and routine disinfection (to reduce microbial burden) AND by hand hygiene, to limit cross transmission via the hands of the healthcare provider.


As always, back to the basics.