Novel Route of Healthcare-Associated Infection Caused by Ear Piercings and Its Association with Staphylococcus aureus in the Nasal Cavity

• Project/Area Number: 17K09133
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Epidemiology and preventive medicine
• Research Institution: Toho University
• Principal Investigator: KATSUSE KANAYAMA Akiko 東邦大学, 看護学部, 准教授 (90536195)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): 小林 寅吉 東邦大学, 看護学部, 教授 (10533028) ; 金坂 伊須萌 東邦大学, 看護学部, 助教 (50758183) ; 金子 明寛 東海大学, 医学部, 教授 (30185920)
• Project Period (FY): 2017-04-01 – 2021-03-31
• Project Status: Completed (Fiscal Year 2020)
• Budget Amount: ¥4,160,000 (Direct Cost: ¥3,200,000、Indirect Cost: ¥960,000); Fiscal Year 2020: ¥650,000 (Direct Cost: ¥500,000、Indirect Cost: ¥150,000); Fiscal Year 2019: ¥1,690,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,300,000、Indirect Cost: ¥390,000); Fiscal Year 2018: ¥1,300,000 (Direct Cost: ¥1,000,000、Indirect Cost: ¥300,000); Fiscal Year 2017: ¥520,000 (Direct Cost: ¥400,000、Indirect Cost: ¥120,000)
• Keywords: 黄色ブドウ球菌 / MRSA / 耳ピアス孔 / 鼻腔 / 医療関連感染 / 細菌

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The frequency of detection of Staphylococcus aureus in pierced earring hole was higher in nurses than in non-pierced earring hole. On the other hand, no difference was found in the frequency of S. aureus in non-nurses with and without ear piercing holes. The frequency of S. aureus in the fingers was low, and the frequency of S. aureus in the nasal cavity was the highest. These results suggest that ear piercing holes may be a reservoir of S. aureus in nurses. The common reservoir of S. aureus among the subjects was the nasal cavity, suggesting that the transmission route from the reservoir site can be blocked by proper hand hygiene.

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

看護師においては、耳ピアス孔および鼻腔がS. aureus(黄色ブドウ球菌)のリザーバーとなり、リハビリテーション職者と一般成人は、主に鼻腔がリザーバーとなる。いずれにおいても適正な手指衛生の実施により、手指を介する伝播の機会を低減しうることが示唆された。一般成人においてS. aureusの鼻腔における定着例が約4割認められ、このうちほとんどの例で手指からも同菌種が検出されたことから、医療者の定着例においても同様に手指への鼻腔由来の細菌の定着が想定される。医療機関における感染対策として、適正なタイミングでの手指衛生の重要性を裏付ける科学的根拠となる。

Research Products

• [Journal Article] Cross-contamination of bacteria-colonized pierced earring holes and fingers in nurses is a potential source of health care-associated infections (2019)
  • Author(s): Kanayama Katsuse Akiko、Takishima Masako、Nagano Miyuki、Kikuchi Kyoko、Takahashi Hiroshi、Kaneko Akihiro、Kobayashi Intetsu
  • Journal Title: American Journal of Infection Control Volume: 47 Pages: 78-81
  • DOI: 10.1016/j.ajic.2018.06.006
  • Peer Reviewed
• [Presentation] 回復期リハビリテーション施設の医療従事者におけるStaphylococcus aureus(黄色ブドウ球菌)の保菌に関する検討 (2021)
  • Author(s): 勝瀬明子、谷川聡子、榎本美郷、金坂伊須萌、小林寅喆
  • Organizer: 第17回東邦大学5学部合同学術集会
• [Presentation] The Association between Persistant Nasal Carriage Rate of Staphylococcus aureus and Nose to Hand and Finger Transfer in Preclinical Nursing Students (2021)
  • Author(s): Akiko Kanayama Katsuse, Satoko Tanikawa, Misato Enomoto, Izumo Kanesaka, Hiroshi Takahashi, Intetsu Kobayashi
  • Organizer: World Microbe Forum
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] Nasal Carriage of Staphylococcus aureus and Residual Efficacy of Alcohol-based Handrub Disinfectants (2020)
  • Author(s): Akiko Kanayama Katsuse
  • Organizer: ASMmicrobe2020(新型コロナウイルス感染症により中止)
  • Int'l Joint Research
• [Presentation] 医療従事者の耳ピアス孔より検出される黄色ブドウ球菌の性状と、手指および鼻腔に存在する同菌との関連 (2019)
  • Author(s): 小林寅喆、金坂伊須萌、勝瀬明子、寺井幸子、長島誠
  • Organizer: 東邦大学5学部合同学術集会
• [Presentation] 看護学生の耳ピアス孔におけるStaphylococcus aureusの保菌とその伝播経路に関する検討 (2018)
  • Author(s): 勝瀬(金山)明子、倉地里枝、金坂伊須萌、小林寅吉
  • Organizer: 第92回日本感染症学会学術講演会
• [Presentation] An investigation into how Staphylococcus aureus colonization develops in pierced earring holes (2017)
  • Author(s): Akiko Katsuse Kanayama, Satoe Kurachi, Izumo Kanesaka, Hiroshi Takahashi, Intetsu Kobayashi
  • Organizer: ASMmicrobe2017
  • Int'l Joint Research