Table 3 Descriptive statistics of variables for MRSA and C. difficile contamination in the general hospital environment
| Â | Hospital | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
A | B | C | ||||
Variables | MRSA (n) | C. difficile (n) | MRSA (n) | C. difficile (n) | MRSA (n) | C. difficile (n) |
Visit: | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 1 | 6.5% (3/46) | 2.5% (1/40) | 6.7% (3/45) | 0% (0/39) | 0% (0/42) | 0% (0/37) |
 2 | 3.7% (2/54) | 0% (0/50) | 9.1% (5/55) | 2.0% (1/49) | 53.1% (26/49) | 0% (0/44) |
 3 | 8.5% (4/47) | 0% (0/44) | 22.8% (13/57) | 2.0% (1/51) | 0% (0/51) | 2.2% (1/46) |
 4 | 18.3% (11/60) | 8.8% (5/57) | 7.0% (4/57) | 0% (0/51) | 2.0% (1/49) | 9.1% (4/44) |
Ward: | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Medical | 8.2% (11/135) | 1.6% (2/126) | 9.2% (6/65) | 0% (0/57) | 14.8% (17/115) | 3.9% (4/103) |
 Surgical | 12.5% (9/72) | 6.2% (4/65) | 12.8% (19/149) | 1.5% (2/133) | 13.2% (10/76) | 1.5% (1/68) |
Surface material: | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Air | 6.3% (1/16) | na | 12.5% (3/24) | na | 0% (0/20) | na |
 Fabric | 8.6% (3/35) | 2.9% (1/35) | 21.1% (8/38) | 2.6% (1/38) | 22.4% (15/67) | 3.0% (2/67) |
 Laminate | 5.3% (1/19) | 0% (0/19) | 16.7% (2/12) | 0% (0/12) | 25.0% (3/12) | 16.7% (2/12) |
 Leather | na | na | na | na | 0% (0/2) | 0% (0/2) |
 Metal | 9.1% (2/22) | 0% (0/22) | 14.8% (4/27) | 0% (0/27) | 10.7% (3/28) | 0% (0/28) |
 Mixed | 11.1% (1/9) | 0% (0/9) | 30.0% (3/10) | 10.0% (1/10) | na | na |
 Plastic | 10.7% (11/103) | 4.9% (5/103) | 5.2% (5/97) | 0% (0/97) | 11.1% (6/54) | 1.9% (1/54) |
 Wood | 33.3% (1/3) | 0% (0/3) | 0% (0/6) | 0% (0/6) | 0% (0/8) | 0% (0/8) |
Surface location: | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Public access | 11.0% (17/155) | 2.1% (3/144) | 11.9% (19/160) | 1.4% (2/148) | 12.9% (17/131) | 3.3% (4/120) |
 Staff access | 5.8% (3/52) | 6.4% (3/47) | 11.1% (6/54) | 0% (0/42) | 16.7% (10/60) | 1.9% (1/52) |
Type of surface: | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â | Â |
 Antibacterial wipes container | 0% (0/6) | 0% (0/6) | 25.0% (1/4) | 0% (0/4) | na | na |
 Blood pressure machine | 6.7% (1/15) | 0% (0/15) | 0% (0/12) | 0% (0/12) | 12.5% (1/8) | 0% (0/8) |
 Brochure holder | 0% (0/3) | 0% (0/3) | na | na | na | na |
 Bulletin board | 0% (0/2) | 0% (0/2) | 0% (0/2) | 0% (0/2) | 28.6% (2/7) | 0% (0/7) |
 Chair back | 12.5% (1/8) | 0% (0/8) | 22.2% (4/18) | 0% (0/18) | 19.4% (6/31) | 0% (0/31) |
 Chart holder | na | na | 0% (0/9) | 0% (0/9) | na | na |
 Clip board | na | na | na | na | 12.5% (1/8) | 0% (0/8) |
 Computer keyboard | 8.0% (2/25) | 12.0% (3/25) | 6.9% (2/29) | 0% (0/29) | 0% (0/8) | 0% (0/8) |
 Counter top | 0% (0/9) | 0% (0/9) | 16.7% (2/12) | 0% (0/12) | 25.0% (2/8)) | 12.5% (1/8) |
 Door knob | 0% (0/3) | 0% (0/3) | na | na | 0% (0/6) | 0% (0/6) |
 Drug cart | 19.1% (4/21) | 4.8% (1/21) | na | na | 0% (0/8) | 0 % (0/8) |
 Elevator panel | 0% (0/12) | 0% (0/12) | 0% (0/12) | 0% (0/12) | 25.0% (2/8) | 0% (0/8) |
 Glove box holder | 33.3% (2/6) | 16.7% (1/6) | na | na | na | na |
 Hand rail | 18.8% (3/16) | 0% (0/16) | 33.3% (4/12) | 0% (0/12) | 0% (0/8) | 0% (0/8) |
 Heating oven handle | na | na | na | na | 14.3% (1/7) | 0% (0/7) |
 Isolation cart | 10.0% (1/10) | 0% (0/10) | 25.0% (3/12) | 8.3% (1/12) | 14.3% (1/7) | 14.3% (1/7) |
 Isolation gown | 25.0% (1/4) | 0% (0/4) | 10.0% (1/10) | 0% (0/10) | 0% (0/7) | 14.3% (1/7) |
 Lamp shade | na | na | na | na | 33.3% (1/3) | 0% (0/3) |
 Lifter handle | na | na | na | na | 0% (0/3) | 0% (0/3) |
 Linen | 0% (0/17) | 0% (0/17) | 0% (0/12) | 8.3% (1/12) | 23.1% (3/13) | 0% (0/13) |
 Patient chart | 8.3% (1/12) | 0% (0/12) | 0% (0/21) | 0% (0/21) | 12.5% (1/8) | 12.5% (1/8) |
 Sofa | 28.6% (2/7) | 14.3% (1/7) | 57.1% (4/7) | 0% (0/7) | 27.3% (3/11) | 9.1% (1/11) |
 Sofa pillow | na | na | na | na | 33.3% (1/3) | 0% (0/3) |
 Supply cart | na | na | 8.3% (1/12) | 0% (0/12) | 25.0% (1/4) | 0% (0/4) |
 Telephone | 6.7% (1/15) | 0% (0/15) | 0% (0/6) | 0% (0/6) | na | na |
 Urine collection container | na | na | na | na | 20.0% (1/5) | 0% (0/5) |
 Elevator area – air | 12.5% (1/8) | na | 16.7% (2/12) | na | 0% (0/8) | na |
 Nursing station - air | 0% (0/5) | na | 8.3% (1/12) | na | 0% (0/8) | na |
 Visiting room - air | 0% (0/3) | na | na | na | 0% (0/4) | na |