Germ “Superspreader” Healthcare Professionals Identified

In the hospital setting, infectious disease outbreaks tend to be “superspreading events” in which cross-transmission occurs via a single individual to a large number of patients. Laura Temime, from the Conservatoire des Arts et Metiers (Paris, France), and colleagues, studied trends in hand hygiene compliance among healthcare workers.  The researchers found that "peripatetic" workers -- such as therapists or radiologists -- were most likely to spread pathogens if they neglected hand hygiene.   In contrast, so-called "assigned" workers -- typically nurses and doctors -- were less likely to spread pathogens.  The team warns that: “Noncompliant peripatetic [healthcare workers] may play a disproportionate role in disseminating pathogens in a hospital ward. Their unique profile makes them potential superspreaders.”