Pathogenic Colonisation of Hospital Badges and Neck Lanyards in the Theatre Environment

A two-phase service evaluation assessed contamination of staff badges and lanyards (B&L) in operating theatres using whole-surface POLYWIPE™ sampling and culture with MALDI-TOF identification. In phase 1, 25.3% of B&L were colonised with potential healthcare-associated pathogens, including MRSA, Klebsiella, Acinetobacter and Pseudomonas, with higher contamination than badges alone. In phase 2, re-sampling after Clinell Universal wipe decontamination showed no recovery of previously identified organisms and an average 72% reduction in colony counts. Findings indicate that B&L can act as transient reservoirs for HCAI organisms and that routine disinfection significantly reduces microbial burden.