Project Director

Spratt, Henry G.

Department Examiner

Giles, David K.

Department

Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences

Publisher

University of Tennessee at Chattanooga

Place of Publication

Chattanooga (Tenn.)

Abstract

Pathogenic bacteria on environmental surfaces in nursing homes may contribute to the‬ growing burden of healthcare-associated infections (HAIs), particularly as the U.S. population‬ ages and more individuals transition into long-term care. In this study, 70 swab samples were‬ collected from five community shower rooms at a nursing home over three sampling trips. Five‬ common shower surfaces were sampled: the floor drain, shower bench, faucet/valves, shower‬ curtain, and grab bars. Samples were processed in the UTC CIDC microbiology lab and‬ inoculated onto four selective and differential media: Hardy CHROM MRSA agar (for‬ methicillin-resistant‬‭ Staphylococcus aureus‬‭ [MRSA]‬‭ and‬‭ S. pseudintermedius‬‭ [SIM]), mannitol‬ salt agar (for‬‭ S. aureus‬‭ [SA] and‬‭ S. epidermidis‬‭ [SE]),‬‭ eosin methylene blue agar (for enteric‬ bacteria [ENT] and‬‭ Bacillus‬‭ spp. [BAC]), and‬‭ Pseudomonas‬‭ isolation agar (for‬‭ Pseudomonas‬ spp. [PS] and‬‭ P . aeruginosa‬‭ [PSA]). MRSA and SA were‬‭ the most prevalent species overall,‬ particularly on the floor drain (92.9%) and shower bench (64.3% and 71.4%, respectively).‬ Enteric bacteria and‬‭ Pseudomonas‬‭ species were also‬‭ found at high densities in floor drains,‬ confirming this surface as a key contamination hotspot. BAC, while less pathogenic, was present‬ on lower-contact surfaces like grab bars and shower curtains. This study highlights the urgent‬ need for targeted infection control and disinfection strategies in high-risk areas, especially as the‬ nursing home population continues to grow and remains vulnerable to environmental sources of‬ infection.

Acknowledgments

First and foremost, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to Dr. Henry G. Spratt, my thesis director. I could not have asked for a more dedicated mentor to help guide me through this challenging research process. His expertise, patience, and unwavering support were essential to the completion of this project. I would also like to sincerely thank Dr. David Levine, whose involvement through the UTC CIDC Research Unit was instrumental to this study. His guidance, especially with the statistical analyses, provided clarity and direction at critical points in the research. A special thank you goes to Dr. Caitlin Crews-Stowe, whose efforts helped launch this project and who served as the essential liaison between UTC and the Bradley Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center. Her coordination and encouragement made this collaboration possible. I am also incredibly grateful to Dr. David K. Giles for his thoughtful feedback and support throughout the writing process. His insights greatly improved the quality of this thesis. To the staff and residents of Bradley Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center, thank you for your openness and cooperation. Your willingness to participate made this study a reality, and I am honored to have had the opportunity to work within your facility. To my beloved family, friends, and loved ones: thank you for supporting and encouraging me throughout this journey and for keeping me strong when I needed it most.

Degree

B. S.; An honors thesis submitted to the faculty of the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga in partial fulfillment of the requirements of the degree of Bachelor of Science.

Date

5-2025

Subject

Nosocomial infections--Prevention; Nursing homes--Sanitation; Staphylococcus aureus--Pathogenicity

Keyword

Healthcare-associated infections (HAIs); Bacterial contamination; Nursing home; Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA); Shower drain; Infection control

Discipline

Bacterial Infections and Mycoses

Document Type

Theses

Extent

ii, 61 leaves

DCMI Type

Text

Language

English

Rights

http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

License

http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

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