Prevalence of staphylococci was lower compared with other published studies and their resistance profiles were similar to those observed in the strains isolated from the Bilbao area.
Nevertheless, staphylococcal survival for weeks on fomites increases cross transmission risk in
conditions of poor infection control.
Rago et alti documented the presence of S aureus in 69% of Chicago BLSAs whereas et al14 and Brown et al15 detected methicillin resistant S aureus in almost 50% of the BLSAs operating on the West Coast and southern Maine, respectively, sharply contrasting with our findings, where methicillin-susceptible S aureus was only isoated in 2 of the 10 BLSAs(20%). Moreover, enterobacteria were detected in different sampling points within in the same BLSA, suggesting possible cross-contamination between the patient area and of driver's cab that may be related to inappropriate practices, such as nt driving with gloved hands after providing assistance or poor ad herence to hand hygiene. In fact, inadequate levels of hand hygiene compliance by Spanish emergency services professionals has been in reported. Current results suggest that although there was sufficient provision of hydroalcoholic gels in 8 of 10 BLSAS, interventions are needed to raise health care worker awareness to increase the compliance rates.