Air ionisation and colonisation/infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and Acinetobacter species in an intensive care unit

Kevin G. Kerr, Clive B. Beggs, Stephen G. Dean, Judith Thornton, Judith K. Donnelly, Neil J. Todd, P. Andrew Sleigh, Andleeb Qureshi, Charles C. Taylor

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

20 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: To determine effect of negative air ions on colonisation/ infection with methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and Acinetobacter species in an intensive care unit. Design: Prospective single-centre cross-over study in an adult general intensive care unit. Patients: 201 patients whose stay on the unit exceeded 48 hour's duration. Intervention: Six negative air ionisers were installed on the unit but not operational for the first 5 months of the study (control period). Devices were then operational for the following 5.5 months. Measurements and results: 30 and 13 patients were colonised/infected with MRSA and Acinetobacter spp., respectively, over 10.5 months. No change in MRSA colonisation/infection was observed compared with the 5 month control period. Acinetobacter cases were reduced from 11 to 2 (p = 0.007). Conclusion: Ionisers may have a role in the prevention of Acinetobacter infections.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)315-317
Number of pages3
JournalIntensive Care Medicine
Volume32
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Feb 2006

Keywords

  • Acinetobacter
  • Healthcare-associated infection
  • Ionisation
  • Nosocomial infection
  • Staphylococcus aureus

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