AccessMyLibrary provides FREE access to over 30 million articles from top publications available through your library.
Create a link to this page
Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:
Long fingernails spread nosocomial infections, Dr. Shelly A. McNeil reported at the annual meeting of the Infectious Diseases Society of America.
Nails extending more than 3 mm beyond the fingertip are more likely to harbor pathogens and shouldn't be worn by any health care workers in contact with vulnerable patients, such as those with surgical wounds, catheters, or intravenous lines, according to Dr. McNeil of Dalhousie University in Halifax, N.S.
She measured subungual nail length for all five fingers on the dominant hand of 18 health care workers, none of whom wore artificial nails. She also swabbed the nail surfaces and collected subungual debris before and after use of an antimicrobial soap or alcohol-based gel, culturing ...