Project:

Mercy Microbes in Manhattan

Students:

Joanna Tan, Siyue Zhu

Institution:

Mercy College, Brooklyn

Mentors:

Davida Smyth

Abstract:

Frequently touched surfaces can host large numbers of bacteria if not regularly cleaned. In the hospital setting, common nosocomial pathogens may well survive or persist on surfaces for months and can thereby be a continuous source of transmission. Inanimate surfaces and equipment may be contaminated by bacteria and can permit cross-transmission of microorganisms. This process plays a significant role in colonization of naïve hosts and their subsequent infections. Outside the hospital, Staphylococci become resident in sites such as households, schools, prisons, gyms, either as colonizers or environmental contaminants. Our proposal is going to involve sampling surfaces in our Manhattan campus to identify the microbes present and to determine if they are antimicrobial resistant.

Poster:

Team samples: