Information on Microorganisms
About microorganisms
There are two groups of microorganisms which are found on the skin:
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Organisms that reside on the skin (resident flora). These rarely cause infection unless introduced into body tissue by trauma or in conjunction with foreign bodies, such as intravenous catheters.
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Contaminants (transient flora) which can include pathogens responsible for infection. These are responsible for most healthcare-associated infections resulting from cross transmission and are easily removed by hand cleansing.
How are microorganisms transferred from patient to patient?
There are five sequential aspects:
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Organisms are present on the patient's skin or have been shed onto inanimate objects immediately surrounding the patient.
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Organisms must be transferred to the hands of the HCW.
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Organisms must be capable of surviving for at least several minutes on the hands of the HCW.
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Hand cleaning by the HCW must be inadequate or entirely omitted (or the agent used for hand hygiene inappropriate)
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The contaminated hands of the HCW must come into direct contact with another patient or inanimate object that will come into direct contact with the patient.
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