Evidence map›Paper›PMID 38802763›Full record

ArticleBMC infectious diseases2024

Comparative performance of contact plate metod and swab method for surface microbial contamination on medical fabrics.

Feng Chen, Yaru Li, Wanqiu Wang, Juan Li, Dong Wang, Xiaxia Sun, Yaping Peng, Jianjun Deng

Abstract readComparative Study
In one paragraph

Article in BMC infectious diseases, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Observational
  4. Synthesis of Silver Nanoparticles Using Reducing Agents ofNanomaterials (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Feng ChenDepartment of Nosocomial Infection Management, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 20, Section 3, Renmin South Road,Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, PR China.
Yaru LiDepartment of Nosocomial Infection Management, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 20, Section 3, Renmin South Road,Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, PR China.
Wanqiu WangKey Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, No. 20, Section 3, Renmin South Road,Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, PR China.
Juan LiDepartment of Nosocomial Infection Management, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 20, Section 3, Renmin South Road,Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, PR China.
Dong WangKey Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, No. 20, Section 3, Renmin South Road,Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, PR China.
Xiaxia SunKey Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, No. 20, Section 3, Renmin South Road,Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, PR China.
Yaping PengKey Laboratory of Birth Defects and Related Diseases of Women and Children, Sichuan University, Ministry of Education, No. 20, Section 3, Renmin South Road,Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, PR China.
Jianjun DengDepartment of Nosocomial Infection Management, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, No. 20, Section 3, Renmin South Road,Wuhou District, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, 610041, PR China. dengjj@163.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundThe contact plate method is widely accepted and used in various fields where hygiene and contamination levels are crucial. Evidence regarding the applicability of the contact plate method for sampling fabric microbial contamination levels in real medical environments was limited. This study aimed to assess the applicability of the contact plate method for detecting microbial contamination on medical fabrics in a real healthcare environment, thereby providing a benchmark for fabric microbial sampling methods.

methodsIn a level three obstetrics ward of a hospital, twenty-four privacy curtains adjacent to patient beds were selected for this study. The contact plate and swab method were used to collect microbial samples from the privacy curtains on the 1st, 7th, 14th, and 28th days after they were hung. The total colony count on each privacy curtain surface was calculated, and microbial identification was performed.

resultsAfter excluding the effects of time, room type, and curtain location on the detected microbial load, the linear mixed-effects model analysis showed that contact plate method yielded lower colony counts compared to swab method (P < 0.001). However, the contact plate method isolated more microbial species than swab method (P < 0.001). 291 pathogenic strains were isolated using the contact plate method and 133 pathogenic strains were isolated via the swab method. There was no difference between the two sampling methods in the detection of gram-negative bacteria (P = 0.089). Furthermore, the microbial load on curtains in double-occupancy rooms was lower than those in triple-occupancy rooms (P = 0.021), and the microbial load on curtains near windows was lower than that near doors (P = 0.004).

conclusionContact plate method is superior to swab method in strain isolation. Swab method is more suitable for evaluating the bacterial contamination of fabrics.

Indexed as

Colony Count, MicrobialTextilesBacteriaHumansSpecimen HandlingContact plate methodHospital-acquired infectionLinear mixed-effects modelMedical fabrics

Identifiers

PMID38802763
PMCPMC11129454

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.