Research Article - Biomedical Research (2017) Volume 28, Issue 6

Environmental surfaces in healthcare setting: a great potential risk of pathogens transmission

The aim of our study is to estimate bacterial contamination of the surfaces surrounding hospitalized patients. This study was achieved from March to June 2014, in an internal medicine ward at the Hospital University Hassan II in Fez. By using the swab technique, the samples were taken from different surfaces surrounding hospitalized patients. Bacterial analysis was performed according to conventional culture and identification techniques. Antimicrobial susceptibility was determined for each isolate by the disk diffusion method. During the study period, 112 samples were collected from different sites in 10 rooms. The bedrails are the most contaminated sites (100%), followed by bedsides tables (60%). Toilets door knobsand room knobs come in third place (50%). We identified 200 isolates of bacteria: Coagulase Negative Staphylococci, Staphylococcus aureus, Enterobacter sp., Pantoea sp., Klebsiella sp., Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas sp., Stenotrophomonas sp. and Enterococcus sp. Different antibiotic resistance profiles were registered for isolated bacteria of which 1 isolate of Enterobacter aerogenes and 1 E. coli are ESBL. We report in this study that hospital environment is contaminated by a variety of pathogenic and opportunist, resistant and sensitive bacteria isolated from many surfaces sites of patients rooms. Hospital must implement evidence-based infection prevention measures that will reduce the risk of transmission of pathogens via contaminated hospital surfaces and medical equipment.

Author(s): Bouchra Oumokhtar, Abdelhakim El Ouali Lalami, Nadia Benaicha, Btissam Arhoune, Wafaa Bono

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