Samples from voluntary laboratory personnel working in high-, medium-and low-exposure areas were collected. We examined C. difficile carriage on the hands and in rectal samples of laboratory workers who had previously consented. Hands were sampled on the same day as the environmental sampling was performed and rectal swabs were collected during that week and the following one. Hand sampling was performed by rubbing the complete surface of the hand using a Polywipe sponge, which was placed on a ChromID C. difficile plate (BioM erieux) directly at the time of sampling. Rectal swabs were obtained by self-sampling on the condition that swabs contained macroscopically visible faecal matter; if not the sample was rejected, and another acceptable sample was obtained. The swabs used were Copan FecalSwabs™ (Copan Italia, Brescia, Italy) with liquid CaryeBlair medium. Once received, they were cultured on a ChromID C. difficile plate (Bio-M erieux, Basingstoke, UK).
Reigadas E., Vázquez-Cuesta S., Onori R., Villar-Gómara L., Alcalá L., Marín M., Martin A., Muñoz P, & Bouza E. (2020). Clostridioides difficile contamination in a clinical microbiology laboratory?. Clinical microbiology and infection : the official publication of the European Society of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases, 26(3).
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