Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41129380›Full record

ArticleAnnals of work exposures and health2026

Development and application of a wipe sampling method for detection of antibiotic surface contamination in hospital wards.

Carina A Nilsson, Elizabeth Huynh, Dallal Rashdan, Andreas Tinnert, Maria Hedmer, Monica Kåredal

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Annals of work exposures and health, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

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

What it found

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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

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Occupational Anaphylaxis to Piperacillin-Tazobactam in a Nurse: A Case Report.Journal of investigative medicine high impact case reports
    Article
4 · The record

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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

6 authors.

Carina A NilssonDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund SE-22381, Sweden.
Elizabeth HuynhDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund SE-22381, Sweden.
Dallal RashdanDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund SE-22381, Sweden.
Andreas TinnertDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund SE-22381, Sweden.
Maria HedmerDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund SE-22381, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-7422-2621
Monica KåredalDepartment of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund SE-22381, Sweden.ORCID 0000-0002-5936-2829

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundAntibiotics are handled in large amounts at hospitals at many different wards due to the wide range of bacterial infections that are treated. Unnecessary use and occupational exposure to antibiotics should be avoided due to the risk of bacterial resistance development and adverse health effects including skin and respiratory hypersensitivity reactions in persons handling these drugs.

objectivesTo develop a wipe test method for sampling and quantification of surface contaminations of antibiotics, to assess the current contamination levels in Swedish hospitals, and to propose hygienic guidance values for antibiotics based on these measurements.

methodsA screening wipe test method and subsequent mass spectrometric analysis of 6 of the most frequently used antibiotics in healthcare was developed and applied in a screening campaign of 16 hospital wards. Wipe tests were sampled from surfaces such as workbenches, floors, storage shelves and handles in medicine rooms, patient rooms, rinsing rooms, utility rooms and corridors.

resultsAntibiotics were detected in most of the samples (cefotaxime 84% positive samples, piperacillin 81%, cloxacillin 65%, metronidazole 53%, ciprofloxacin 20%, and penicillin V 14%). Median values ranged from not detected up to 160 pg/cm2 for the 6 different compounds and the highest results from an individual wipe sample were 27 × 106 pg/cm2 (cefotaxime) and 3.0 × 106 pg/cm2 (piperacillin). For cloxacillin, piperacillin, and metronidazole, lower levels of contamination were observed in medicine rooms when closed systems were used compared with samples collected in rooms where preparations were made without closed systems. Comparison of contamination levels showed that there were significant differences between different surface categories. Out of the most frequently detected antibiotics, ie cloxacillin, piperacillin, and cefotaxime, highest median values were found for surface categories floor and storage whereas lower median values were found for workbenches.

conclusionA widespread environmental contamination of antibiotics was observed in hospital wards that potentially can contribute to the development of antibiotic-resistant bacteria as well as health impacts of exposed personnel. Probable sources include compounding, handling and administration of drug tablets, antibiotic contaminated waste as well as other sources such as excretions from patients and contaminated drug vials. Current surface cleaning routines do not sufficiently reduce spills and leakage regardless of source.

Indexed as

Anti-Bacterial AgentsEnvironmental MonitoringOccupational ExposureHospitalsHumansPatients' RoomsSwedenAnti-Bacterial Agentsmass spectrometryoccupational exposurewipe test

Identifiers

PMID41129380
PMCPMC12821367

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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.