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

The presence of bacterial contamination on wheelchair surfaces in long-term care facilities poses a significant risk to infection control and patient safety. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and diversity of bacterial species, including Staphylococcus aureus (SA), methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), Staphylococcus epidermidis (SE), Pseudomonas spp., and enteric bacteria on five key components of wheelchairs at a local long-term care facility. A total of 320 swabs were collected from wheelchair components, including handles for pushing, armrests, seats, wheel handles, and tires. Samples were analyzed using selective culture media, and bacterial species were identified based on colony morphology. The results revealed a high prevalence of SA and MRSA, with Staphylococcus aureus detected most frequently on wheel handles (90.6%) and tires (62.5%), followed by armrests (46.9%) and seats (57.8%). Pseudomonas spp. and enteric bacteria were found on seats and tires, suggesting potential fecal contamination. The findings indicate that wheelchairs, particularly the wheels and handles, serve as major vectors for microbial transmission in healthcare settings. The high contamination rates underscore the need for enhanced disinfection protocols to reduce the risk of infection in long-term care facilities. This study highlights the importance of regular wheelchair cleaning and contaminant monitoring in reducing the prevalence of potential pathogenic bacterial species on these critical rehabilitation devices.

Acknowledgments

I would like to thank Dr. Henry G. Spratt, Dr. David Levine, and Dr. David Giles for their invaluable guidance and mentorship throughout this research project. I also appreciate the assistance of Caitlin Crews-Stowe in sample processing. Special thanks to the Clinical Infectious Disease Control (CIDC) lab at UTC for providing the necessary resources for this study. I would like to acknowledge Bradley Healthcare and Rehabilitation Center for granting access to their facility and supporting this research. Finally, I would like to thank my family and sweet husband for their constant encouragement throughout this process.

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; Long-term care facilities--Sanitation; Staphylococcus aureus--Pathogenicity

Keyword

Microbiology; MRSA; Wheelchair; Staphylococcus; Facility; Rehabilitation

Discipline

Bacterial Infections and Mycoses

Document Type

Theses

Extent

i, 45 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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