Bacterial colonization of toys in neonatal intensive care cots

Objectives. To investigate the bacteria and fungi contaminating toys in neo natal intensive care unit (NICU) cots, the colonization rates, and factors that influence them. Methods. A cross-sectional, longitudinal bacteriologic survey of all toys i n the cots of infants in an NICU. All the toys in an infant's cot were cult ured weekly for 4 weeks. Data were collected on the infant's postnatal age, the type of cot, whether humidity was added, characteristics of the toy, a nd any infant infections. Results. Over the 4-week period, there were 86 cultures from 34 toys of 19 infants. Bacteria were grown from 84/86 (98%): 84 of the cultures grew coag ulase-negative Staphylococcus, 50 Micrococcus sp, 21 Bacillus sp, 13 methic illin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, 12 diphtheroids, 4 group B streptoco ccus, 3 S aureus, 3 nonhemolytic streptococci, 3 group D streptococci, 4 al pha-hemolytic streptococci, and 2 coliforms. None grew fungi. The colonizat ion rate did not differ with cot type, presence of humidity, size of the to y, toy fiber length, or the fluffiness score. Eight (42%) of the infants ha d positive blood culture results and 5/8 of the isolates (63%) were of the same type as that colonizing their corresponding toy. Implications. With time, all the toys in NICU cots became colonized with ba cteria. Many were potentially pathogenic. Toys may be reservoirs for potent ial infantile nosocomial sepsis.