Reusable venesection tourniquets: a potential source of hospital transmission of multiresistant organisms

Objective: To determine the prevalence of multiresistant organism (MRO) colonisation of reusable venesection tourniquets. Design and setting: A prospective study in a tertiary hospital to collect and analyse reusable venesection tourniquets for the presence of MROs — methicillin‐resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), vancomycin‐resistant enterococci (VRE), and extended‐spectrum β‐lactamase and metallo‐β‐lactamase‐producing Enterobacteriaceae — using a sensitive enrichment method. Tourniquets were collected and tested during a 10‐week period between September and November 2010. Main outcome measure: Prevalence of MRO colonisation of tourniquets. Results: The overall colonisation rate of 100 tourniquets randomly collected from general wards, ambulatory care areas and critical care areas was 78%. MROs were isolated from 25 tourniquets collected from a variety of hospital locations, including general wards, the intensive care unit, burns unit and anaesthetic bay. MRSA was isolated from 14 tourniquets and VRE from 19; both MRSA and VRE were isolated from nine tourniquets. There were no microorganisms isolated from 22 tourniquets. Conclusion: Reusable tourniquets can be colonised with MROs and may be a potential source of transmission of MROs to hospitalised patients.