Characteristics (No. of samples) | Median RLU/cm2 (interquartile range) | Median CFU/cm2 (interquartile range) | Number (%) of samples exceeding the microbial threshold (≤ 2.5 CFU/cm2) | Number (%) of sites with faecal bacteria isolated | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Enterococcus species | Escherichia coli | ||||
A. Type of surface | |||||
Floor (18) | 199.6 (128.2 – 478.7) | 0.7 (0.1 – 5.8) | 6/18 (33.3) | 4/18 (22.2) | 3/18 (16.6) |
Door, fridge door, and freezer door (21) | 100.6 (40.8 – 307.9) | 0.3 (0.2 – 2.0) | 2/21 (9.5) | 3/21 (14.3) | 0/21 |
Tap and worktop (11) | 146.4 (75.9 – 201.9) | 0.5 (0.1 – 2.3) | 3/11 (27.3) | 0/11 | 0/22 |
Dog kennel: floor, drain, door handle, and shoreline concrete (10) | 575.9 (283.8 – 1001.6) | 3.1 (0.2 – 18.1) | 5/10 (50.0) | 5/10 (50.0) | 2/10 (20.0) |
High touch surfaces (HTS): Keyboard & mouse, fluid pump, syringe driver, anaesthetic machine, Bair Hugger warming device, portable SpO2, X-ray machine, ultrasound machine, and telephone (45) | 47.6 (22.6 – 124.8) | 0.5 (0.1 – 1.3) | 10/45 (22.2) | 16/45 (35.5) | 4/45 (8.9) |
Other: couch, bed, instrument trolley, table, pen, and handle (8) | 92.7 (25.6 – 172.3) | 0.8 (0 – 1.4) | 0/8 | 3/8 (37.5) | 0 |
All surfaces (113) | 26/113 (24.5) | 31/ 113 (27.4) | 9/113 (7.9) | ||
B. Site sampled | |||||
B1. Small animal | |||||
Consult room, induction room, ICU, medicine treatment room, dog kennels, and surgery room (58) | 132.9 (35.8 – 446.2) | 0.6 (0 – 1.4) | 12/58 (25) | 21/58 (36.2) | 5/58 (8.6) |
Emergency clinic (14) | 64.8 (24.7 – 140.7) | 0.3 (0 – 0.9) | 2/14 (14.3) | 4/14 (28.6) | 0/14 |
Operating theatre for 'dirty' procedures(4) | 67.8 (41.4 – 94.7) | 0.1 (0 – 0.2) | 0/4 | 1/4 (25) | 0/4 |
B2. Large animal | |||||
Treatment room, surgery suite, and tutorial room (18) | 170.6 (88 – 278.4) | 2.2 (0.6 – 18.1) | 8/18 (44.4) | 3/18 (16.7) | 3/18 (16.7) |
B3. Area shared by small and large animal clinics | |||||
Diagnostic imaging room (X-ray & ultrasound machines) (5) | 46.8 (9.9 – 77.6) | 0.3 (0.1 – 0.5) | 0/5 | 0/5 | 0/5 |
B4. Other locations | |||||
Staff common room and nurses’ tea station (5) | 131.8 (74.9 – 146.4) | 0.3 (0 – 1.6) | 1/5 (20.0) | 0/5 | 0/5 |
Corridor, outside small animal ward, reception, student computer, and dispensary (9) | 105.5 (67.2 – 165.3) | 0.5 (0.2 – 3.1) | 3/9 (33.3) | 2/9 (22.2) | 1/9 (11.1) |
All sites (113) | 26/113 (23) | 31/113 (27.4) | 9/113 (7.9) |