Contact: Christopher Malter - IMC
(954) 629-2036
cmalter@imcomm.net
TELEVISION REMOTE
CONTROL IS LEADING CARRIER OF BACTERIA IN PATIENT’S
HOSPITAL ROOM -- NEW STUDY OUT OF THE UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
Remote Control Holds More Bacteria
Than Toilet Bowl Handle
Phoenix, Arizona – September 20, 2005
– A new study by University of Arizona Microbiology
Professor, Chuck Gerba – “The Germ Doctor”
-- ranks the TV remote control as the highest carrier of
bacteria in a patient’s hospital room compared to
the toilet bowl handle, bathroom door and call buttons,
among others. Even more disturbing is the detection of Methicillin-Resistent
Staphylococcus Aureus (MRSA) on the remote control. As an
antibiotic-resistant bacteria, MRSA is a leading cause of
infection and death in hospitals.
The study involved 15 hospital rooms to determine
if the greatest number of bacteria in a patient’s
room occurs on the remote control. Samples were tested for
total bacteria numbers, and of the 28 remotes, 20 had been
used by multiple patients and 8 remotes were single patient
use.
The total average bacteria on sites in the
hospital room were 91, compared to the average for the remote
controls at 320. The sites tested included, the hand rail,
call button, tray table, door knob in/out, bath door out,
faucet handle and flush handle.
Additionally, the study involved 20 samples
of newly opened disposable remotes. In this case, the average
total bacteria for the newly opened disposable remote controls
were significantly less at 8.35.
“At a time when more and more patients
are increasingly becoming ill and dying due to hospital-acquired
infections, this study has undisputedly identified a leading
source of bacteria, said Dr Gerba. “The positive aspect
of this study is that there is an easy solution. Since newly
opened disposable remotes showed a very small level of bacteria,
perhaps we can quickly fix the problem with disposable remote
controls.”
According to a review published in the New
England Journal of Medicine, infections acquired by patients
in hospitals are estimated to affect 2 million people resulting
in 90,000 deaths, annually. Patients with hospital-acquired
infections spend an average of 14 days in the hospital compared
to other patients and account for more than $9.5 billion
in excess medical bills. Even more staggering was the detection
of MRSA bacteria on television remote controls in patient
hospital rooms. MRSA cannot be treated with antibiotics
and is of major concern to hospital staff as a leading cause
of hospital-acquired infection and death.
“These numbers clearly show the
remote controls as having three times greater levels of
bacteria than any other site in the hospital room,”
said Dr. Gerba. “Five years ago, The Institute of
Medicine called for a national effort to make healthcare
safe, especially for hospital infections. If there is more
bacteria on the remote control verses the toilet bowl flusher,
than we need to do a better job to offset infection and
deaths.”
Study Results
The average total bacteria on the remote controls was
320.
The average total bacteria on sites in the hospital room
was 91.
The average total bacteria on newly opened disposable
remotes was 8.35. There was no detection of Staphylococcus
Aureus on newly opened disposable remotes.
MRSA bacteria was present on television remote controls
in patient hospital rooms.
Ongoing Studies
As the most frequently used and handled device
in a patient’s room, and as the leading carrier of
bacteria, a future study would address the television remote
control as a leading source of hospital-acquired patient
infection.
About NOSO Control
As a subsidiary of New Remotes, -- manufacturer
of the popular Miracle Remote series -- NOSO Control manufactures
disposable remote controls for the healthcare industries,
to help alleviate infection in hospital room settings. With
the introduction of the company’s new disposable remote
control, NOSO Control is quickly gaining momentum in re-defining
the television and satellite wholesale remote industries,
as well as key vertical markets including: the hospital
industry, the medical supplier/distribution industry, hospitality
industries and pharmaceutical industry, among others,. To
learn more about NOSO Control, visit
www.nosocontrol.com or call 800-810-0954.
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