Table 1.
Examples of microorganisms isolated from different surfaces and some of their associated pathologies.
| Microorganism | Surfaces where it was found | Associated pathologies |
|---|---|---|
| Acinetobacter spp. | Hospital surfaces (mattresses, medical charts …) [33], [42], [143], [144] Environmental surfaces (telephones) [17] Food-contact surfaces [145], [146] |
Respiratory tract infection, pneumonia, wound infection, bacteremia [147], [148] |
| Aspergillus spp. | Hospital surfaces (cleaning towels, nursing stations, sink waste pipes, medical overalls…) [39], [149], [150] | Pulmonary infection, skin infection, central nervous system infection, endocarditis [151], [152], [153], [154] |
| Campylobacter spp. | Food-contact surfaces [155], [156], [157], [158] | Gastroenteritis (diarrhea) [7], [159] |
| Candida spp. | Hospital surfaces (sink, chairs…) [144], [160] | Oral and vaginal Candidiasis [161], [162] |
| Clostridium difficile | Hospital surfaces (bed rails, tables, call buttons, toilets, chairs…) [28], [163], [164] Environmental surfaces (toilets, sinks, vacuum cleaners, hotel room surfaces…) [165], [166] |
Gastroenteritis (diarrhea), Pseudomembranous colitis [167] |
| Coronavirus | Environmental surfaces (daycare center surfaces, university classroom surfaces) [16], [168] Hospital surfaces (bedrails, doorknobs, ventilator control panels, TV remote controls…) [169], [170] |
SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) and MERS (middle east respiratory syndrome) [171] |
| Enterococcus spp. (including vancomycin-resistant enterococci) | Hospital surfaces (mattresses, medical charts…) [33], [42], [143] Environmental surfaces (fitness centers…) [18] Food-contact surfaces [172] |
Endocarditis, meningitis, catheter-related infection [173], [174], [175] |
| Escherichia coli | Hospital surfaces (medical charts…) [143], [144], [176] Food-contact surfaces [11], [155], [172] |
Gastroenteritis (diarrhea), peritonitis, urinary tract infection [177], [178], [179] |
| Influenza virus | Environmental surfaces (toilets, toys, faucets, floors, door knobs, TV remote controls) [180], [181], [182] Hospital Surfaces [181] |
Influenza (flu) [183] |
| Klebsiella spp. | Hospital surfaces (mattresses, medical charts …) [32], [33], [143], [144] Environmental surfaces (fitness centers…) [18] Food-contact surfaces [146] |
Urinary tract infection, pneumonia, respiratory tract infection [148], [177] |
| Norovirus | Hospital surfaces (door handles, taps, light switch, telephones…) [184], [185] Environmental surfaces (carpets, door handles, soft furnishing, toilet seats, tables…) [186], [187] |
Gastroenteritis (diarrhea)[188] |
| Pseudomonas spp. | Hospital surfaces (mattresses, showers, taps, sinks, bed rails…) [32], [33], [144] | Wound infection, urinary tract infection, respiratory tract infection, pancreatitis, otitis, necrotizing pneumonia, bacteremia, sepsis [189], [190], [191], [192] |
| Rotavirus | Hospital surfaces (bed rails, chairs, cardiac monitor keyboard, door handles, TV remote controls, telephones…) [193], [194] | Rotavirosis (acute diarrhea) [159] |
| Salmonella spp. | Food-contact surfaces [146], [155], [157], [158] Environmental surfaces (fitness centers, toilets…) [18], [195] Hospital Surfaces (curtains, stethoscope…) [42], [196] |
Enteric fever, Gastroenteritis (diarrhea) [7], [159], [197] |
| Staphylococcus spp. (including MRSA) | Hospital surfaces (mattresses, curtains, ECG wires, medical charts …) [32], [33], [36], [38], [143], [144] Environmental surfaces (public telephones, fitness centers, elevator buttons, hotel room surfaces…) [17], [18], [19], [166] Food contact surfaces [155], [172], [198] |
Gastroenteritis (diarrhea), skin infection, pneumonia, catheter infection [7], [199], [200], [201] |