Healthcare-associated infections are a major public health concern for both patients and medical personnel. This has taken on greater urgency during the current COVID-19 pandemic. Radiation Personal Protective Equipment (RPPE) may contribute to risks of microbial contamination. This possibility was tested in 61 personal or shared-use lead aprons and thyroid collars at Columbia Presbyterian Irving Medical Center. Fifty percent tested positive for either bacterial or fungal contamination, mostly around the neckline of lead vests and thyroid collars. Repeated testing of garments some weeks to months later confirmed continued presence of microbial contamination. The possibility that hospital-approved disinfection agents could degrade the radio-protective features of these garments was also examined. Samples of identical construction to garments in regular use were subjected to either daily or weekly wipes with hypochlorite or alcohol-based hospital-approved cleaning agents for 6 mo. A third group of samples was maintained in contact with the cleaning agents for 6 mo. All samples were fluoroscoped four times during the study. None demonstrated any degradation in radioprotection. All samples were photographed monthly. Physical degradation of the outer plastic covering by concentrated hypochlorite and limited mechanical damage around stitched seams of the samples cleaned daily with alcohol was noted. Based on the high prevalence of microbial contamination, regular cleaning and disinfection protocols should be implemented. Regular cleaning with medical-facility-approved cleaning and disinfecting agents is likely to be effective at reducing the microbial load and unlikely to result in significant reduction in radioprotective properties of these garments.

中文翻译：

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辐射防护服的微生物污染风险和消毒。

医疗保健相关感染是患者和医务人员的主要公共卫生问题。在当前的 COVID-19 大流行期间，这一点变得更加紧迫。辐射个人防护装备 (RPPE) 可能会导致微生物污染的风险。哥伦比亚长老会欧文医疗中心对 61 个个人或共用铅围裙和甲状腺项圈进行了测试。百分之五十的细菌或真菌污染检测呈阳性，主要集中在铅背心和甲状腺项圈的领口周围。几周到几个月后对服装进行的重复测试证实了微生物污染的持续存在。还检查了医院批准的消毒剂可能降低这些服装的辐射防护功能的可能性。与常规使用的服装结构相同的样品每天或每周用医院批准的次氯酸盐或酒精清洁剂擦拭 6 个月。第三组样品与清洁剂保持接触 6 个月。在研究期间所有样品均经过四次荧光镜检查。没有任何证据表明辐射防护有任何退化。所有样品每月拍照一次。注意到浓次氯酸盐导致外塑料覆盖物的物理降解，以及每天用酒精清洁的样品的缝合接缝周围有限的机械损坏。由于微生物污染的高发生率，应实施定期清洁和消毒方案。使用医疗机构批准的清洁和消毒剂定期清洁可能会有效减少微生物负荷，并且不太可能导致这些服装的辐射防护性能显着降低。