Toilet Seats and Dangerous Germs

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) and vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) infections have become increasingly prevalent in hospitals and pose a severe threat to immunocompromised and critically ill patients. When an increased occurrence of both MRSA and VRE infections was identified at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN in 2006 and 2007, staff from the hospital’s infection control program and department of infectious diseases took action. Recognizing that immunocompromised outpatients often share toilet facilities with other patients, staff, and visitors, they enacted a policy that required alcohol wipes to be provided in bathrooms designated for patient use in the outpatient clinics. Patients and parents were instructed to use the wipes to clean the toilet seat before each use.