Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Identifier

266

Date

2011-04-18

Document Type

Thesis (Campus Access Only)

Degree Name

Master of Public Health

Major

Public Health

Concentration

Epidemiology

Committee Chair

Wasim Maziak

Committee Member

Marian Levy

Committee Member

Carlos Estrano

Abstract

Recent studies have isolated MRSA, an organism linked with healthcare associated infections (HAIs) in EMS ambulances which provide pre-hospital care to patients being transported to the hospital, suggesting that these vehicles could be contributing to the spread of HAIs to the vulnerable patients transported in them. Therefore, the objective of the study was to determine whether Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and other bacterial contaminants are present in the Memphis EMS ambulances. Samples were obtained from 5 areas, in 15 EMS ambulances before scheduled monthly cleaning and from 5 units after scheduled monthly cleaning. These samples were tested for the presence of MRSA and other contaminants. Of the 15 ambulances sampled, 6 (40%) tested positive for MRSA in at least one area. Other contaminants were also isolated from some of these vehicles, suggesting that, these vehicles could be a source of serious infectious agents such as MRSA and other opportunistic pathogens.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

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