Abstract

Because pathogens such as streptococcus and staphylococcus have been transferred in many hospitals, the source of the infections is of concern to doctors, nurses, and other medical personnel. As shown by the review of literature, good techniques are necessary to stop the spread of disease.

It was the purpose of this study to investigate one facet of patient safety by: (1) the culture of thermometers ready for use in three selected hospitals; (2) to determine the effectiveness of the Group, Individual, and Central Supply methods of disinfection currently practiced in the three selected hospitals.

The method for the experiment of culturing thermometers under conditions of actual use was designed by Dr. O. B. Pratt. A pilot study was done to determine if the methods and equipment were satisfactory.

The study was conducted in three selected hospitals who used the Group (Hospital A), Individual (Hospital B), and Central Supply (Hospital C) methods for the disinfection of thermometers. A random sampling of ten thermometer cultures was taken from the units of the selected hospitals at two-week intervals. The culture series was repeated three times, making a total of ninety thermometers used for taking the cultures.

A summary of the results revealed that the Group method (Hospital A) had six positive culture growths (20 per cent), five of which were Staphylococcus albus, and one was Streptococcus viridans.

The report of cultures from the Individual method (Hospital B) revealed that two of the thermometers from the 30 (6.6 per cent) had positive growths. One was Streptococcus viridans, and one was Staphylococcus albus.

Central Service method (Hospital C) had positive cultures from six of the thirty thermometers (20 per cent), There was one Streptococcus viridans, and four Staphylococcus aureus. One of the Staphylococcus aureus cultures was mixed with Gram-negative cocci. One thermometer culture was reported to be a nonpathogenic Gram-positive bacilli.

Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that a similar study be done in the same area in the selected hospitals to find the effectiveness of the chemical disinfection against the tubercle bacilli. It was also recommended that the individual technique for taking temperatures gives greater patient safety. Further study should be made into the newer methods of taking temperatures, such as the clinical electronic thermometer.

LLU Discipline

Nursing

Department

Nursing

School

Graduate Studies

First Advisor

Anabelle Mills

Second Advisor

Ruby Dybdahl

Third Advisor

Helen Menkel

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Degree Level

M.S.

Year Degree Awarded

1961

Date (Title Page)

5-1961

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Infections -- prevention & control; Thermometers

Type

Thesis

Page Count

v; 45

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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