Persistent contamination of fabric-covered furniture by vancomycin-resistant enterococci: Implications for upholstery selection in hospitals

Vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) have emerged as important nosocomial pathogens in hospitals throughout the United States. An increasing concern with respect to VRE dissemination is survival on, and potential transmissi on from, environmental surfaces within health care institutions. Therefore, we assessed survival of VRE on fabric chairs in an attempt to determine th e optimal upholstery for the health care setting. VRE was identified on 3 o f 10 seat cushions sampled, including 2 chairs in a room of a patient with known VRE. After performing simulated contamination experiments, all sample s were positive at 72 hours and 1 week after inoculation. Contamination of the upholstery could be prevented by placing a sheet folded 4 times or a ba th blanket folded in half on the seat cushion. In conclusion, VRE are capab le of prolonged survival on fabric seat cushions and can be transferred to hands. Environmental surfaces such as chairs may serve as a potential reser voir fur nosocomial transmission of VRE, and an easily cleanable, nonporous material is the preferred upholstery in hospitals.