Look to the Kitchen When Preventing Infections in Hospitals

​In studying the transmission of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae (such as Klebsiella pneumoniae), researchers examined the cutting boards and gloves used in hospital kitchens for food preparation. Their findings were published in the May 2014 Infection Control and Hospital Epidemiology. Over a period of six months, researchers examined cutting boards and gloves after food preparation and before being cleaned. Of the 154 cutting boards sampled, 10 tested positive for Escherichia coli. No other extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing Enterobacteriaceae were detected. All Escherichia coli samples were found on boards used to process poultry.