Index to Chiropractic Literature
Index to Chiropractic Literature
My ICL     Sign In
Tuesday, October 28, 2025
Index to Chiropractic LiteratureIndex to Chiropractic LiteratureIndex to Chiropractic Literature
Share:

For best results switch to Advanced Search.
Article Detail
 Return to Search Results
Article ID
Title
URL http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19712789
Journal J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2009 Jul-aug;32(6):463-468
Author(s)
Subject(s)
Peer Review Yes
Publication Type Article
Abstract/Notes Objective: A baseline microbial survey was conducted to identify the microbes present on the headpieces of chiropractic adjusting tables from across the Western States Chiropractic College, Portland, Ore, facilities. This included the instructional adjustive technique laboratories, the student health center, the campus outpatient clinic, and an off-site clinic. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of disinfection protocols over time at a chiropractic college.

Methods: Four samplings were done for a 12-month period. A total of 69 treatment tables were tested. Sampling was done directly to blood agar (5% sheep blood) plates. Data obtained from the clinic locations were analyzed using linear regression models.

Results: Identification of microbes by differential staining and biochemical analysis yielded a variety of gram-positive bacteria in all 4 surveys. The numbers of bacterial colonies decreased in the second survey after changes to disinfection protocols. The number of colonies continued to remain below baseline in the third and fourth surveys. Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus was found in the clinics in 3 of 4 surveys. Methicillin-resistant S aureus was not detected in the technique laboratories.

Conclusions: Various microbes were identified on the headpieces of adjusting tables in the college instructional technique laboratories and college clinics. Changing the disinfection protocols reduced the number of bacteria found in the second survey. In addition, the third and fourth surveys showed fewer bacterial colonies than baseline, suggesting that compliance with disinfection protocols continued over time.

This abstract is reproduced with the permission of the publisher. Click on the above link for the PubMed record for this article; full text by subscription. Select a publisher from PubMed's Links>>Linkout
Journal link
      

Search Tips
  • Enclose phrases in "quotation marks".  Examples: "low back pain", "evidence-based"
  • Retrieve all forms of a word with an "asterisk*", also called a wildcard or truncation.  Example: "chiropract*" retrieves chiropractic, chiropractor, chiropractors
  • Register an account in My ICL to save search histories (My Searches) and collections of records (My Collections)
Advanced Search Tips