Contamination of blood pressure cuffs by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus and preventive measures

BACKGROUND: Although blood pressure cuffs are commonly used and shared in medical facilities, their routine disinfection is performed infrequently. AIMS: We investigated the contamination of blood pressure cuffs by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA). METHODS: The MRSA level on the inner side (the surface in contact with patients’ skin) of blood pressure cuffs used in the wards and outpatient clinics of a university hospital (733 beds) was determined using the gauze and swab wiping methods. RESULTS: Using the gauze wiping method (n = 35), the MRSA contamination rate was 31.4 %, and the MRSA contamination level was 1,702.6 ± 9,996.1 (0–58, 320) colony-forming units (cfu)/cuff. No MRSA was detected on blood pressure cuffs after washing (n = 30) or wiping with 80 vol% ethanol (n = 18). CONCLUSIONS: Blood pressure cuffs are frequently contaminated by MRSA.