Abstract

CANDIDO DE ALMEIDA, Marcela Cristina  and  CORREA, Ione. Bacteria on the hands of school-age children at a Pediatric Hospitalization Unit. Invest. educ. enferm [online]. 2012, vol.30, n.2, pp.241-244. ISSN 0120-5307.

Objective. To estimate the prevalence of bacteria isolated in samples from the hands of school-age children at a hospitalization unit. Methodology. In 2009, strains were cultured from the hands of 90 school-age children at the pediatric hospitalization unit of Hospital Estadual Bauru (São Paulo, Brazil). After culture of the samples, the isolated bacteria were identified. Results. In 98% of the samples taken from the children, bacteria were isolated. Coagulase-negative Staphilococcus was isolated in 64% of the samples, followed by Staphilococcus aureus (5%) and Pseudomonas aeruginosa (1%). Conclusion. In most of the samples from the children's hands, bacteria were isolated. Therefore, educative actions about hygiene habits in- and outside the hospital environment should be reinforced, aimed at children and their companions.

Keywords : handwashing; cross infection; hygiene; pediatrics.

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