Cabin surfaces of ambulance cars transporting hospitalised patients are at risk of meticillinresistant
Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) contamination. In this study ambulance cars were
analysed for the presence of MRSA immediately after transport of MRSA-colonised or -infected
patients (two sites at the stretcher, three sites at the interior walls). Eighty-nine of 100
transport events, which fulfilled the inclusion criterion of transport time less than 20 min,
were further analysed. Eight ambulance cars (9%) were contaminated (90% confidence interval:
4e14%). Transport time of 11e20 min did not result in a higher contamination rate than
shorter transport time of 1e10 min. MRSA was detected only on the stretcher, i.e. the headrest
and the handles. Cabin walls were not contaminated. In conclusion, ambulance cars were
contaminated with MRSA even at short transport times. Disinfection after short-term transport
of MRSA-positive patients should be restricted to surfaces in close vicinity to the patient’s
position. Consecutive investigation of 60 transport events in the absence of MRSA notification
did not reveal any MRSA, but meticillin-susceptible S. aureus was detected in 12 cars,
predominantly at handles and headrests. This finding highlights the importance of disinfection
of surfaces in the vicinity of patients irrespective of the MRSA status.
2011 The Healthcare Infection Society. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.