Do pneumatic tube transport systems transmit potential pathogens? A hygienic risk assessment in a university hospital.

Background: Prompted by an outbreak of vancomycin-resistant enterococci (VRE) in a medical facility, this study examined a pneumatic tube transport system (PTS) as a potential transmission channel.

Method: Samples from the receiving station and entry racks were gathered via smear technique. Sponges used for PTS decontamination were soaked with 0.