. 2009 May 15:1003–1069. doi: 10.1016/B978-032304841-5.50053-4

Table 51-6.

Studies of Microorganisms Carried on the Hands of Hospital Personnel Working in a Neurosurgery Unit, University of Wisconsin Hospital

	All Microorganisms	Gram-Negative Bacilli	Staphylococcus aureus
Mean log₁₀ CFU ± SD, recovered from persons' hands^* (range of individuals' means)	4.59 ± 0.69 (3.31-5.76)	1.04 ± 0.44 (0.29-1.93)	0.44 ± 0.44 (0-1.45)

% All cultures positive	100	44.5	11.2

% All individuals positive at least once^*	100	100	64

Based on 6 to 34 cultures obtained at random times from each of 25 employees working in the unit over a 4-month period. CFU, colony-forming units; SD, standard deviation.

From Maki DG: Control of colonization and transmission of pathogenic bacteria in the hospital. Ann Intern Med 1978;89:777-780.