Role of hospital surfaces in the transmission of emerging healthcare-associated pathogens: Norovirus, Clostridium difficile, and Acinetobacter species

Weber D.J., Rutala W.A., Miller M.B., Huslage K. and Sickbert-Bennett, E. Health care-associated infections (HAI) remain a major cause of patient morbidity and mortality. An estimated 20%-40% of HAI’s are attributed to cross contamination by touching contaminated environmental surfaces, which play a role in the transmission of MRSA, VRE, norovirus, Clostridium difficile, and Acinetobacter spp. Transmission of these pathogens can be interrupted by appropriate hand hygiene and improving the cleaning and disinfection of environmental surfaces. This article focused on the role of surface contamination in the transmission of 3 emerging nosocomial pathogens: norovirus, C difficile, and Acinetobacter spp.

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