Evaluation of the relationship between ATP bioluminescence assay and the presence of organisms associated with healthcare-associated infections
Shawn G. Gibbs A F , Harlan Sayles B , Oleg Chaika A , Angela Hewlett C , Erica M. Colbert A and Philip W. Smith C D EA Department of Environmental, Agricultural and Occupational Health, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
B Department of Biostatistics, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
C Section of Infectious Disease, College of Medicine, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
D Center for Preparedness Education, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
E Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, Nebraska, USA.
F Corresponding author. Email: sgibbs@unmc.edu
Healthcare Infection 19(3) 101-107 https://doi.org/10.1071/HI14010
Submitted: 9 April 2014 Accepted: 5 June 2014 Published: 26 June 2014
Abstract
Background: High prevalence and high mortality rates associated with healthcare-associated Infections (HAI) indicate there is a need to prevent HAIs from spreading. Cleaning and disinfection of hospital surfaces are fundamental to preventing HAIs, as is the confirmation of the success of these processes. Adenosine triphosphate bioluminescence has been identified as a quicker way to confirm cleaning, but questions remain regarding its specificity regarding microorganisms important to HAIs.
Methods: This study evaluated ATP bioluminescence’s efficacy in determining microbial contamination on 17 surfaces from the healthcare environment, and to determine if the ATP measurements of Acinetobacter baumannii, Candida albicans, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus corresponded to quantitative microbiology.
Results: A strong positive correlation was discovered for each of the six organisms associated with HAIs, as well as an additional ‘all organisms’ analysis that combined all the six organisms.
Conclusion: This study demonstrated a correlation between ATP bioluminescence measurements and quantitative microbiology; however, it was not as strong at low bacterial concentrations.
Additional keywords: Acinetobacter baumannii, Adenosine triphosphate (ATP), ATP measurement, Candida albicans, Enterococcus faecalis, Escherichia coli, healthcare-associated infections, Mycobacterium smegmatis, and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus.
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