X-Ray Equipment May Spread Infections

An unexpected location for bad bacteria may be portable X-ray equipment. A study in Israel revealed that portable X-ray equipment may be contributing to the spread of drug-resistant bacteria. In the course of 173 chest X-rays proper infection control procedures were practiced on only two patients. Drug resistant bacteria were found on 39 percent of the machines. This equipment goes from one hospital room to another and thus could readily be responsible for spreading infections. After more stringent infection control procedures were instituted, contamination dropped dramatically. The moral appears to be that X-ray equipment requires careful and consistent disinfection to help reduce the ever-present danger of hospital acquired infections.

[Chest, August 2009]