Redmond EMS Abstracts.indd - IAFF

Infectious Diseases
and Immunology, each at the University of Washington. She has been an investigator with the
Northwest Center to Reduce Oral Health Disparities since its beginning. Her interests include
the characterization and role antibiotic and mercury resistance genes in oral bacteria, microbial
causes of dental caries and periodontal disease, the use of xylitol to reduce dental caries and the
potential exposure of students and dental personnel to methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus
while working on dental patients.
Her recent research projects and publications include; “Xylitol pediatric topical oral syrup to
prevent dental caries”; “Xylitol gummy bears snacks: a school-based randomized clinical trial” and
“Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus [MRSA] from dental school surfaces and students.”
Abstract:
Methicillin-resistant S. aureus [MRSA] infections have become a significant cause of morbidity
and mortality in the hospital and community settings. Certain occupations are at higher risk of
exposure, carriage and ultimately MRSA disease due to the people they serve. Fire fighters and
paramedics interact with known at-risk groups for MRSA infection and MRSA contaminated
fire station and ambulances surfaces have previously been identified. We undertook a study to
identify the location of MRSA-contaminated environmental surfaces within two fire stations from
two independent districts in Western Washington. MRSA was isolated from 44 of 1,064 samples
examined (4.1%) and included community-acquired USA300 and hospital type isolates. The same
strains of MRSA were found in both the garage (i.e. medic and fire trucks and protective clothing)
and the living quarters suggesting spread around the stations. Nasal carriage of MRSA from one
fire district was 22.5% with ~60% of the nasal MRSA/S. aureus isolates genetically related to
the fire stations environmental strains, suggesting possible transmission between personnel and
the environmental surfaces. In collaboration with our Advisory Board educational materials
and best practices for disinfection protocols have been developed and are available on line at:
http://depts.washington.edu/envhlth/resources/firefighter.php. Both are important in reducing
potential transmission between personnel and the environmental surfaces. Dr. Roberts’ is currently
setting up a MRSA testing project that will provide kits for sampling fire stations surfaces across
the country. This will provide important information on areas within individual fire stations and
training facilities in regards to MRSA contamination surfaces with the ultimate goal of reducing
the risk of acquiring MRSA by the personnel.
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