Transcript Diurnal Variations and Colonization of Staphylococcus in a High

Diurnal Variations in
Colonization of Staphylococcus
on fomites in a High School
Locker Room
Ryan Zeh
Grade 11
Pittsburgh Central Catholic
Background
 Staphylococcus is a gram positive form of
bacteria found frequently in the nose, on
the skin of people and in the environment
on fomites.
 It has a wide range of infections it causes.
 Pimples, small skin infections and boils
 Cellulitis, Necrotizing Fasciitis
 Pneumonia and meningitis.
 It is one of the most common post surgical
wound infections.
Background
 The bacteria can survive for hours
once it makes it way onto a fomite.
An example of a Staph infection
Background
Staph infections can be spread many ways
 By contact with pus from an infected
wound
 Skin-to-skin contact with an infected
person
 Most importantly in this study: contact
with objects (fomites) such as towels,
sheets, clothing, or athletic equipment
used by an infected person
Background
 Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus
aureus (MRSA) is a strain on
staphylococcus aureus that is most
difficult to treat because it is resistant to
antibiotics and penicillins.
Background
 Staph infections, more specifically
MRSA infections are increasingly
prevalent around the nation in high
school, college and even professional
sports
 Unsanitary conditions lead to
bacterial growth which eventually
makes their way into cuts or open
wounds of the athletes.
Purpose
 The purpose of this study is to
determine where and when it is most
dangerous for one to come in contact
with staphylococcus bacteria via
contact with fomites in a locker room.
Hypothesis
 Afternoon samples will generate more
staph colonies than morning samples
 Null Hypothesis- there will be no difference
between the two samples in amount of
colonies grown.
 It is important to note that the locker room is
not used from 6 PM until 10 AM the next day
 The locker room is heavily used by weight room
training PE classes, sporting teams practicing
and miscellaneous people working out from 10
AM until 5:30 PM
Materials
 MSSA HARDYCHROM agar plates
 MRSA HARDYCHROM agar plates
 “BBL-CultureSwabTM Plus” Collection and
Transport System
 Saline Solution
 Miscellaneous fomites in an active locker
room
 Appropriate protective gear
 Incubator
TM
TM
Procedure
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Swab different fomites in a locker room at varying
times of day with “BBL-CultureSwabTM Plus” Collection
and Transport System
Morning (approximately 8:00 AM)
Afternoon (approximately 5:00 PM)
Inoculate samples on MSSA HARDYCHROMTM agar
plates.
Inoculate samples on MRSA HARDYCHROMTM agar
plates.
Incubate plates for 20-28 hours
Check plates
MSSA plates will appear a pink color, all other
bacteria is inhibited
MRSA plates will exhibit colonies, varying size
Fomites tested
1st Testing Day
2nd Testing Day
Sink
Sink
Water Fountain
Training Room Table
Training Room Table
Bench Press “Bench”
Bench Press “Bench”
Bench Press “Bar”
Bench Press “Bar”
Water Fountain unavailable
Number Of MSSE Colonies (Test Run 1)
35
Number of Colonies
30
25
20
AM
PM
15
10
5
0
training room
bench bar
sink
Specific Fomite
bench
water fountain
Number of MSSE Colonies (Test Run 2)
160
140
Number of Colonies
120
100
AM
80
PM
60
40
20
0
training room
bench bar
sink
Specific Fomite
bench
Average Number of Colonies
Number of Colonies
90
P=.23355
80
70
60
50
Avg AM
P=.040296
Avg PM
40
30
20
P=.177821
P=.102416
10
0
training room
bench bar
sink
Fomite
bench
Colonization with MRSA
Training Room
MRSA
0
0
Bench Bar
MRSA
0
0
Sink
MRSA
0
0
Bench
MRSA
0
1
Conclusions
 There appeared to be a significant
difference between the AM and PM samples
taken on the training room table and
bench.
 Statistical Analysis showed there was only a
significant difference on the training room
table. Null hypothesis rejected
 Other samples were not statistically
significant, Null hypothesis accepted
Extensions
 Other times of
testing
 Different fomites to
test
 Other locker rooms
 Test for other
bacteria
Limitations
 Confined to one
locker room
 Hard to test at
exact points during
the day
Sources
 “Colonization, Fomites and Virulence: Re
thinking the Pathogenesis of Community
Associated Methicillin-Resistant
Staphylococcus aureus Infection” : Clinical
Practice
 “An evaluation of different methods for the
recovery of methicillin-resistant
Staphylococcus aureus from environmental
surfaces” : Journal of Hospital Infection
(2007)
Background
 A fomite is any inanimate object that is able to carry
infectious organisms and therefore is able to transfer
those germs and parasites to individuals.
 Careful cleaning and sterilization techniques must be
used to prevent cross-infection.
 A fomite can be a variety of things such as a towel,
cloth, bench, or even a sink.
 “Researchers discovered that smooth surfaces transmit
bacteria and viruses better than porous materials; so
one is more likely to pick-up a disease from a door knob
than from paper money. The reason is that porous,
especially fibrous, materials absorb and trap the
contagion, making it harder to contract through simple
touch.” –from Wikipedia “fomite”