The implications of healthcare professionals wearing jewelry on patient care biosafety: observational insights and experimental approaches.

Autor: Fracarolli IFL; Nursing Department, State University of Londrina, Londrina, PR, Brazil., Watanabe E; Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil. ewatanabe@forp.usp.br.; Department of Restorative Dentistry, Ribeirão Preto School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Avenida do Café, s/n. Campus Universitário, Monte Alegre, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14040-904, Brazil. ewatanabe@forp.usp.br., Oliveira VC; Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.; Department of Dental Materials and Prosthodontics, Ribeirão Preto School of Dentistry, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil., Machado MB; Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil., Bim FL; Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil., Bim LL; Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil., Andrade D; Human Exposome and Infectious Diseases Network (HEID), Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.; Department of General and Specialized Nursing, Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil., Marziale MHP; Department of General and Specialized Nursing, Ribeirão Preto College of Nursing, PAHO/WHO Collaborating Centre for Nursing Research Development, University of São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil.
Jazyk: angličtina
Zdroj: Scientific reports [Sci Rep] 2024 Aug 10; Vol. 14 (1), pp. 18601. Date of Electronic Publication: 2024 Aug 10.
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-69711-x
Abstrakt: The use of jewelry among healthcare professionals poses a risk of cross contamination due to potential bacterial accumulation and spread. Through a mixed-method design, this study first analyzed the implications of healthcare professionals wearing jewelry on patient care biosafety as well as on the residual bacterial load of hands and rings after hand hygiene. Firstly, an observational prevalence study to verify whether nursing professionals wear personal accessories during healthcare assistance was carried out. Second, an experimental design involving intentional contamination and hygiene of the hands, with and without a ring, was conducted. The bacterial load of both hands and rings was measured by counting colony forming units. The observational study showed that nursing workers frequently wear jewelry during healthcare assistance. Nonetheless, the experimental study did not indicate differences in bacterial contamination between hands with and without a ring, despite the hand hygiene procedure applied. In conclusion, many nursing workers wear jewelry in the workplace. Although hands with and without a ring exhibited similar microbial load, rings appeared as a potential source of bacterial contamination, reinforcing the need to remove jewelry during working hours. Hand hygiene using alcohol, or soap and water significantly decreased the bacterial load on the participants' hands, with handwashing proving to be the most efficient method for removing intentional contamination.
(© 2024. The Author(s).)
Databáze: MEDLINE
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